IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photogmphic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M580 

(?I6)  a72-4S03 


■iipi^jgjw^ppB»an^otwiii'WTgft'y*B«.'gw^i'j"rw«^ 


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^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


w 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notai  tachniquat  at  bibliographiquas 


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D 


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I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


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Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculAe 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


D 

I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


D 
D 
D 


D 


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Bound  with  other  material/ 
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mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  cas  pages  n'ont 
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Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


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^ 


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r~n  Pages  damaged/ 

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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


I 


I 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

2ZX 

26X 

30X 

y 

bHMd 

toy 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

ll 


tails 

du 
odifier 

une 
Tiage 


I 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

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Photoduplication  Service 

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first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
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The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^^  (meaning  "CON- 
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whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
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gAnArositA  de: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  it6  reproduites  avec  le 
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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  prem'ur  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  pa^^e  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impressir  >   ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  Vj  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  ccmporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmAs  d  dea  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich4,  11  est  film6  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  9a  mdthode. 


irrata 
to 


pelure, 
n  d 


n 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

si^^a(L  ^9^?Qiii\7 


OF   iiif 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


BY 


Jo  FBEKTHMOIglE  (DOOFJiJEo 


PHILADELPHIA! 

THOMAS,  COWPERTHWAir  &  03fc 

1846. 


r 


7'    '-J' 


Tirp, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NAVY 


or  nr. 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA: 


ABRIDGED  IN  ONE  VOLUMK. 


•r 


j/PENiMORE  Cooper. 


^^i^*^»«^«'.'M»n»rf>>W^^m^^f,^^,_j. 


H.I.«.T.AT«D    WITH    nvUMUOVn    K»n«4T,N„, 


PHILADELPHIA: 
THOMAS,  COWPERTHWAIT  «,  CO, 

ass  WARKIT  STRBRT 

FOR   JAMES   A.    BILL. 

1646. 


•«^^ 


Bntand,  icconllng  io  tha  Aet  of  CongnM,  in  the  jtu  1646,  by 
J.  FENIMORE  COOPEK, 

b  tha  offiM  of  llio  cUrk  of  the  dktrict  court  of  the  United  8t«tee  in  mi 
for  the  northern  diitrict  of  New  York. 


^  S"^  Q  i> 


1 


BBU 


PREFACE. 

This  work  has  beon  reduced  in  size,  and  conse- 
quently in  cost,  by  omitting  that  portion  of  tho 
original  matter  which  it  is  thought  will  Siave  the 
least  interest  with  the  general  reader.    The  ori- 
ginal descriptions  of  the  battles,  attacks,  chases, 
dec.,  have  been  retained,  nearly  Terbatim,  and  the 
narrative  is  unbroken.    Wherever  there  has  been 
any  alteration,  in  this  respect,  it  has  been  made  with 
R  view  to  improvement.  The  opportunity  has  been 
taken,  also,  to  introduce  a  little  new  matter,  and 
to  correct  a  few  errors.    Some  faults  of  style,  and 
many  errors  of  the  press,  have  been  corrected. 
In  a  word,  in  the  author*8  opinion,  this  reduced 
work  has  all  the  value  or  interest  which  may  belong 
to  the  original,  the  documents  and  more  elaborate 
reasoning  excepted.    As  a  mere  narrative,  he 
thinks  tile  abridgment  will  be  foaod  to  have  the 
most  attraction. 

A  powerihl  and  combined  attempt  has  been 
made  to  injure  both  the  book  and  the  writer,  in 
connexion  with  his  account  of  the  Battle  of  Lake 
Erie.  As  to  the  ftial  decision  of  the  worW  on 
this  subject,  the  author  feels  no  concern;  but  he 
will  take  this  occasion  to  say,  that  the  man  who 


[ 


if  PRIVAOI. 

makei  vp  bin  mind  on  luch  a  lubject,  without  look- 
ing for  evidence,  is  guilty  equally  of  weaknew  and 
injustice  j  and  as  for  those  who  do  inquire  into  iho 
tettimony,  who  collate  ond  consider  it,  as  ho  has 
himself  done,  the  author  has  no  apprehensions  con- 
cerning their  decision.    His  assailants  are  fiat 
refuting  themseWos)  for,  not  satisfied  with  con- 
tradicting each  other,  as  has  already  been  done  in 
fifty  instances,  they  are  contradicting  their  own 
witnesses,  and  their  own  statemenU.    The  mo- 
ment is  near  when  a  full  review  of  the  whole  mat- 
ter will  be  laid  before  the  public,  in  which  theae 
facts  will  be  made  apparent  to  any  reader  who 
will  take  the  trouble  to  peruse  it.    It  is  not  diffi- 
cult to  deceiTe  the  world  for  a  timej  and  this  ii 
done  80  much  the  more  easily,  when  passion,  pre- 
judice, and  clamour  conspire  to  aid  the  effort }  but 
public  opinion  never  fails  to  take  ample  vengeance 
for  the  mistakes  into  which  it  baa  fallen  even  by  its 
own  negligence  and  compliance.    The  victims  art 
those  who  have  been  so  ignorant  of  the  po^«r  of 
truth  as  to  act  under  the  delusion  of  boping  to 
■mother  it,  in  an  age  Uke  this,  and  on  a  queitioo 
that  can  excite  party  feeling  only  for  a  day. 


mm 


tot  look- 
neuand 
into  iho 
I  ho  hu 
oni  con- 
are  fait 
ith  con- 
I  done  in 
leir  own 
rbe  mo- 
lole  mat- 
ch  theae 
der  who 
not  diffl* 
d  thii  ii 
uon,pre- 
fort;  but 
engeance 
ren  by  iti 
Btimiart 
po^«Mr  of 
loping  to 
queitkm 
ly. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAt*TER  f. 

SinuMiirr  of  0Mntr7~Mp«4iilM  of  Oaptaln  Argtl  — flni 
TMMla  of  N«w  EDfisai— Inl  ragagMMnton  Om  wiiw— 
Intdaokwl  vmmI— gwn)ft'«oata»-flniiM-flgb»-8ir  WUUhb 
Phip|M*i  U|Mdiiioa— flnt  Iwo^aelud  aUp,  built  in  Ahmt- 

*•• Ph»    Ii 

CHAPTER  II. 

BOMUMN-Oaptfa  Kid4-taklBc  of  Pert  Ro7bU-«xp«||||m 
•filMt  tk«  f^-"^— --  ■rit-Hmlt  irliitr  flthwtot  wpttm  of 
Lonlabottif ,,,, ^q 

CHAPTER  ni. 

Skippiflf  of  dlAmt  poitt,  178»-«M  Frandi  wtr-4Mtnjl^ 
tho  too— barniBf  of  tbo  0Mp4  b«aio  of  i^lmtw,  to^- 
touimoBB— oat  of  MToUtio* 9f 

CHAPTER  ly. 

PriTtmw  tot  Mval  MtloB  of  tho  MTo:«tio»-.LM,  Oopttla 
MuljMtwo  of  CoBgNM-tot  Anwiou  tomoIo  of  wu— 
oOoM  of  Mfy  lut  ■fpoialid-.wpodltioa  of  OoMMiM 
HopklM—bMilo villi  tkaOlMfMi—Bdwori  t^kmhjtlm 


Cftitm 


CHAPTER  T. 

PmI  3mm    hk  liM  enbo  m  ■ 

'  imio  Pitlwu,  OopidB  Hwiiaf ,  t«kw  Briddt  \ 
cnilM  of  tko  PratiiMMMid  AUM~«raiM  of  BopriMl,  fai 
E«wipi  Uilifiiw,  do^-C^tik  WMo**  eniaM--Lali^ 
IM  tikf    low  of  BopriMl-CapiidBOwtivu  Oo^yagkoM** 


49 


W 


M 


fi  OONTINTt. 

GHAITIR  VI. 

Ctptrfn  MuffcH— ««)h«m  lO-Amlrw  DofU  U-CapUln  lU- 

blMon  uk««  U>«  kifl«horwi,  l.tMtmiMt  Jodm— ftlUyt  In  lh« 

D«lawM«— Mtlon  In  (h<i  lludcon  — Kang«r't  Mlion  In  Um 

Wwt  lndt«*    hattia  on  Laka  Ch.mplain — Uanaral  Arnold. . . 

GIIAPTKK  VII. 

Cralaa  and  blowing  up  of  RanJolpb  W— lona  of  Cabol  14-«o- 
(ion  ofTnirobull  iW.C'apuln  Sallonalall— oapUiia  of  Fox  m— 
eapwra  of  Hancock  M,  (^apUln  Manly— taaaala  daatroyad  In 
<h«  Ualawaiw,  by  Oia  Bngllah— Angnadi  M,  blown  np—eralaa 
oT  RaUifh  99.  Captain  Thorapaon,  and  bar  aolion  wklb  Um 

DnUM •* 

CHAPTER  Vin. 

Pnooh  nlllaaaa— nav  Mgalaa  built --  Pnvldanea  19,  Gaptab 
Rathbunta,  aaltaa  Naw  Prorldanoa— «aptara  of  iha  Alftad  M 
—do.  of  Virginia  9fl,  Captain  NIeholaoB— frlgalaa  bomad  by 
Uwanamy  In  Ilia  Dalawaia— aralaa  of  th.t  Ranfar  1«,  Paal 
Jonai»^takaa  tka  Draka  lft->M^|or  T^bot  outa  oat  ika  PIgot 
i-loaaofhalalfhW,  Captain  Barry 7* 

OHAPTBR  IX. 

AlllaMa  wlla  flu  Fnaov-Hanany— arulaa  of  Wanaa  39,  Qnaan 
of  Pranea  94,  and  Rangar  16— Paal  Jooaa'a  oaUbralad  eralaa 
rovad  Boodaad—bU  bttda  with  Iha  Barapla 


•1 


OHAPmi  X. 

Sarapia  aad  hm  onwwrta  arrlva  in  Hollaad  —  Paul  Joaaa  ^vita 
Holtead  in  tha  Allluaa— AlUnnea  aalla  tat  Amarlea  Coat- 
BMdore  Imaa'a  ratnra  la  Iha  Afial  90— enlaa  of  Daaaa  M, 
aad  Boaton  94— Providaaaa  aaptaraa  tha  DUigaaW-MaMaahM 
aatta*  eralaa?,  Hawurd.  aaptaraa  AadTa  14— aafcrtaaala  «qpa> 
dMoatotha  Paaobaaot W* 

CHAPTIR  XI. 
Vaaaala  takan  at  Ohariaaton,  8.  C— battla  of  tha  Traoiban  md 
Wau— «nlaaa  of  tha  AUiaaea  19,  Captain  Bury  -i 
tha  Atalaata  awl  Tmpaaajr— aaptara  of  OoaMaMj  i 


Mflb 


•■■■■ 


78 


•1 


Mi 


OOMTIITTf.  fli 

«f  Tnmbnll  M  —  CoafWM  pilnumr  uihM  ih*  flrif«(a  |«-. 

enlM  of  th«  AlliM««  in  th«  WMi^lndUa  — cMap*  of  Ik* 
Hafv*  S«,  Captain  Manly |^ 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Baltic  of  (k«  HjrdOT  Ally.  Captain  Daniay,  and  Monk.  Capta' 
Rofara— atala  oiutaai*— Mouik  Carolin*— har  •nplura— md  ot 
WW  of  rtrolation >,,,,*,,,,, |17 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
CmmmmoommI  of  piwani  Mvy-^aat  war  wtth  PitMt lU 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
rUni  Toaoal  at  aan— 1«  Oroysbia  Ukaa    axapa  of  lbs  RMnltailM, 
LtmlMMBi  BalnbrMf* , i^ 

CHAPTER  XV. 

VaoaoUofwarataM  ta  17»»-OooalollaUon  ffi,  eaplnraa  I'l*. 
•argmto  M— Taaoola  at  aoa  In  ISOO— action  botwaon  OonMol- 
Ulion  md  la  VongoaMO— Lioaionani  Hull  enia  out  lb«  iPatri- 
wMi—toaa  of  I'lnaurfonio  and  Ptakoriaf— ornioa  and  aatloiw 
of  Enlwpriao,  LlaniMwat  Cofflimiidul  Shaw— Bootoa  «•• 
fHW  boalt— eaptaiw  tka  B««ooi»— PiMMh  prtnMaia  takwi 
~  RiporioMDl,  LlwitMHat  Gommandaat  Maloy,  aafifM 
bargas— EIp•riaMn^  LlwtaMnl  ComouBdaDt  Stmrart,  eap- 
(aiM  Dlan»>«tptani  Eof  Uab  privaiaaa— and  of  Pnaob  war 
— P«MM  MtablUbOMMt im 

CHAPTER  XVL 

War  with  TripoU  —  ConaMidoro  Dala'a  mfuitm— RiHipriw 
oaptaiM  tha  Tripoli— aagotlaliaw 190 

OHAPTIR  XVn. 

Uw eflSOS-OowMdm Mania' afMdiM  ami t« . 
iM»~BoMe«  M,  Captdc  M'NoUl— OoMlailMioB  .^^ 

WW  baAm  tba  towa  of  Tripoli    ■btw— taofaqwiroau 

Connodoit  Morria~wifwoffTripoli~«tlaak  oa  wbrnlvoo. 
Mia — altaok  on  fm^Mta  -  Joha  Adaiaa,  Caplala  Rodgan, 
daMiayt  aa  mmnbj'o  «rateaf^i.tanMit  babaWoar  of  Uaataaaat 
ComiaaadaaiHaII~€a— o<oiaM«wtoia<aiaa  km»    daatiw 

» IW 


▼m 


OOrrTBNTSi 


195 


169 


CHAPTER  XVin. 

Smdl  ctnlwn  bnllt-thlrd  Bqiadron  lent  to  Medlteitftnetn,  vain 
tJommodove  Prebl»-tr«ily  with  Morooco-Phlltdelphia  c*p- 
taiM  «  Mooriw  oniiMr 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Philadelphia  88,  Captain  Balnbitidga— api-eata  off  Tripoli— 
ohaaes  a  xebtc— ia  loat  on  a  reef,  and  crew  captured— liat  of 
her  officers— moTomenU  of  Commodon  Preble— acnda  ketch 
Intrepid,  Lienfena^t  Decatur,  to  destroy  the  Philadelphia— 
frigate  bnmed 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Vear  1804— Siren  takae  the  Trcnafei^-affair  with  go»bof  <e  tr- 
the  westward  of  Tripoli— Co2i.modore  Preble  appeal*  off  the 
port— foreee  of  respeetire  partle*— actton  of  M  of  Adgnnt ....  185 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
PnpaittiMM  for  new  attack— ettank  of  17th  of  Angost— No.  8, 
gaivboat,  blown  vp— John  Adams,  Captaji  ChaoBcey,  airires 
tma  Amsrie*— nancw  escape  J  the  Argas,  Captain  Hult~ 
bonaierd£Mnt  of  the  f>4th— attaek  of  96tb— attack  sf  Sd  of 
Se'^tamber ••••  *•* 

CHAPTER  XXn, 

Ksieh  Intrepid— prepaiatlons— her  attack— dw  eKploeioB-pn>- 

bable  canaes  of  the  dkaster— piiTate  Joomt!  of  Captain  Baln- 

bvidge— atrival  of  aqnadion  of  Comwodove  Banon— Commo- 

modoie  Preble  letorr*  home '  •  •  • 

CHAPTER  XXIIL 
Force  in  Mediterranean,  cIom  of  i804 — ncpedilion  of  Gwieral 
Eatoa-ftice  May,  1806~«afd  of  TripoUtMB  war. 

CHAPTER  xxnr. 

Comsaodora  Rodgera  gnssto  Tuni»-4lietiitasa  treaty— oonditioii 
of  die  Mvy  1806-4-7— Leaodw  kllle  a  m$9  df  tStaady  Gr^ 
—Chesapeake  38,  Commodore  Barron,  fitted  fbr  the  Modlisr- 
mteai^English  demand  Ardsaerten— frigate  aaUs—aUaek-i 
byLeqwrdSO— paitfenlarsoftheaiiUr^-wmrtsiBaitial....    ttl 


M6 


9I< 


ttii 


196 


Mft 


Sl« 


OONTINTS.  Il 

OHAPTIR  XXV. 

Onii.bMt»>«mbugo  of  1807—mTal  foioa  on  HinnnMl  luwiilt 
onthelakM-TMMis  in  Mtive  MrrtM—lSll— Piwiitont 
pnaishM  Little  Ml 139 

CHAPTBR  XXVI. 

Stfia  of  BBTj  18ia— uuriuooorpo— EnglUhntTy— AmerioiBdo. 
-frofpoela  oft  ww  with  Eagluid-^aptdiM  BainMdgo  ud 
Stewui  raaoMtnto  agiiiut  liyigg  ap  iIm  TOMok  of  wu— 
AeHng  of  covntry,  uid  of  tlio  mrj 139 

OHAPTEB  XXVIL* 
War  doeliNd,  Juo  18th,  18ia-«itaatioB  of  Anorion  any^ 
iqiudroB  of  Goiunodora  Rodgon  —oImm  ct  Bohidom  S«-> 
onauoeeMfu]  punnit  of  Weat-Indii  convoy— Engliah  oqiMdroii 
Mdor  Commodoro  Brols,  tdtM  tho  NmtUoo  19,  Ltontenut 
Oommindant  CiM»~oolobi»tod  ohuo  of  tho  CcMtiMtion  44, 
Oipf^  Hall— eroiao  of  the  lSm»x  39,  Obtain  Pntnr  wp 
toTM  the  Alert  18 — aecond  orniw  of  the  Oonatitatian— cetloa 
with  the  Gnerriera— eqaadron  of  Oommodore Beinbridgo. ...914 

CHAPTER  XXVIU. 
Commodoie  Rodgew    eelioa  of  United  SIMM  tad  IfiniiMlM 
•-HSMieeofAi|M-HM)tieiiorW«ep«BdPraUe m» 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Cruiae  of  the  ConatitoUon,  Cofflmodora  Baiobiidge,  HoiBet, 
Captain  Lawimce  ectieu  between  Oonatitalion  and  |«t»~ 
Honet  Uuekadeo  Bonne  Citeyenne  notion  betwwn  Honwt 
and  Peaeoeli— Hornet  letune  home  new  Tweolo  oriend  to 
be  boiit... 1^ 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
Eaaax  99,  Captain  Porter— takaa  the  Nooton— doablea  Cap* 
Hom~nHkeapiitei~eqaipeairieepofwar t78 

CHAPTER  XXXL 

Ondaea  of  Baaez  and  Geoqplana— priaee— eqvipa  "irnt  Tiaiot 
pioeeeda  to  the  M arqoeeae 994 


y  C0NTBNT8. 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
Airival  at  Noodimri>-MUi  for  ValpmUo-wrlTil  of  Ph«b« 
•ad  Ohwub— •ttempt  on  tho  Uttoi^-blookide  —  tcUon  of 
Phcibo  tad  Ohorab  with  Emox— «tptuw  of  *•  Earn*.— Bum. 
Jmlor  atUt  for  Amertca— Lleutonmi  Gunblo 9W 

CHAPTER  XXXni. 
Ch«MpMk«  Bty — CoMtoUtaoB  Wg«to  —  blockidad  —  ChoM- 
pMka  38,  CapUin  Lawranoa— aaila  from  Boaton— bar  action 
with  tba  Shannon  88 *** 

•chapter  XXXIV. 

Smallar  oruiaara—Vlxan— Siren— Entarpriae—captnroa  tha 
Bomr-ohaaad  on  tha  aonthom  eoaa»-Ratdaandia  takan. . . .  SIO 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Argna*  cmiaa  in  Britlab  chanaal— «aptnrad 


Naw  aloopa  of 
by  dia  Paliran 

CHAPTER  XXXYI. 
Chaaapaaka  Bay— gun^boata  attack  Britiah  frigataa  Narolaaoa 
ud  Jnnon— attack  on  Cranay  laland— Aap  taken— Commo- 
doN  Dacatnrchaaad  into  New  London— Liantanant  Kaamy 
takaa  the  Hebrua*  tender— do.  SeTam'a— gnn-boat.  No.  160, 
takaik— afhir  in  the  Delaware 

CHAPTER  XXXVn. 

Naw  vaaaala  launched— Fn>lle  taken  by  the  Orphena-amiaa  of 
the  Aduna— run  on  a  rock— attacked  and  burned— Waap  18, 
aaila  for  Engliah  channel— action  with  the  Relndeei^goea 
into  France— aaila  agsdn— action  with  the  ATon— contlnuea 
Imt  cmiaa— probable  fcte 

CHAPTER  xxxyni. 

Captain  Sir  Peter  Parker— Coaamodora  Barney  in  Chaaapaaka 
Bay— hia  different  actlona— flotilla  burnt— Bladanebnrgh— 
vaaaala  deatroyed  at  Waahington— Baltimoia-daath  of  Gene' 
lalRoaa 


814 


818 


894 


Si8 


mm 


mmmmimtgi 


••mmum 


OONTBNT8.  J^ 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

LoM  of  gun-boita  at  New  OrlMUM-nalUBtoondant  of  the  Oar»- 
liu— Louimui  eannotude— batUo  of  Now  Orleuw 340 

CHAPTER  XL. 
War  on  tht  Ukea— «iieiny*a  force— Ant  attaok  on  Saokett'a  Har* 
boBN-Commodore  Ohaonoey  takea  command— upper  lakea— 
Lieutenant  Elliott  cuU  out  two  briga  from  under  Fort  Eri»~ 
John  Adama*  crew  arriTea— Commodora  Chauneey  attaeka 
Klngaton— bloody  aflUr  at  Erie,  under  Lieutenant  Angna. ...  347 

CHAFTER  XLi. 

Ohaiwjter  of  Teaaela  on  LakeOntari»-aewTeaae]abaili--MMk 
flo  York— do.  on  Port  George 359 

CHAPTER  XLH. 
Britiah  attaok  Saokett'a  Harbouiw*nilding— loaa  of  Growler  and 
Eagle,  on  Lake  Champlaln— attempt  on  American  Teaaela  ftila 
—Lake  Ontario— York  taken  a  cecond  time— mannuTrinf  of 
two  aquadrona— Hamilton  and  Scourge  loat  in  a  aqnall— ae> 
tio»>43rowIer  and  Jalia  taken 3^ 

CHAPTER  XLHL 
Squadrona  in  front  of  each  dtbaiu-fmiUeoa  manannea— aciiona 
without  raau]ta..«ction  off  Yorfc-Engliah  aquadnm  driren  to 
Burlington  Bay— enemy  eacapea— Britiah  gun-Teaaela  eap. 
tnred— American  troopa  tranaported 3^5 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 
CapUin  Perry  on  Lake  Erie-enemy'a  foroe— Americana  get 
out  of  Pieaque  Ial»— American  fero»— firat  craiaft>4ainforee- 
mentofoflkeraandmen— battle  of  Lake  Brie 393 

CHAPTER  XLT. 
laenaaed  ferae  on  Lake  Ontario— Oawego  taken— Sackett'a  Har- 
boar  bleekaded—Engliah  party  in  Salmon  river  uke»~bloek. 
•de  of  8aekett*a  HariKwr  laiaed— handnome  exploita  of  Lieu- 
tMutGragefy-^Amerimna  blockade  Klngaton— JBngliah  two- 
'MkwgMsonl-.ead  oTtlMaoaMNi sm 


iii 


Xii  OORTBN'ri* 

OHAPTCR  XLVI. 
Uke  Oli»ptab-«i»»«I  fcroe»-Ain«k»M  tmatmi*  BogUih 
uiaj— Iwtdt of  PhUriHHg  B>j ••  *•* 

CHAPTER  XLVn. 
Umm  Mm    rin§\\r^  ..t^^-  A««riiiMi  ■dmoBOT  off  Fort  Erie 
!IIo.  is  Uk*  Huo»--nnpitiil«tiM  oriha  Mrrloo  pwfinmd 

oatlMtakM *" 

CHAPTER  XLVni. 
CoMtltotlomCtptMB  StowMt-Mtkm  with  Cyino  tad  LoTMt— 
Port  Piiy»-Biigltah  w^wainn  •pp«n-ohM«  of  Conttitatlon 
tad  hw  yiUiiJ    Motpi  of  OonrtitBtioa  wd  OjaM-«aptan 
aflitvMl  I ■»?{<»■  of OMlwnridw *«* 

OHAFTER  XLIX. 
PiMMwt,  OowMdoN  DMrt»-h«  «•?!"»-*•♦»«»  bo*w«eB 
H«art  Md  Pongato    Ami  oT  H«iM»-PMMeli  tdwt  *• 

NwrtttM    tadofwM **' 

CHAPTER  L. 

W«  MitaM  Alglen— •qwtdroB  deipttehod  to  dw  ModitomaMa 
— otptMO  of  18  Alfwfae  fHfmte,  tad  of  •  Wt-mbmlwlon  of 
dM  BHM07— t"^  oooeladod—laewMO  of  tte  AmwiM 
■a»j-llapiM«tooBdilk^MrffctM»pioip«ti <*» 


w ' 


t  ..• 


MJWWi'iiiilai'iiiiiMiyiriiiii'iiiiiOini 


.~,.J 


417 


NAVAL   HISTORY 

or    TBI 

UNITED  STATES. 


481 


499 


441 


CHAPTER  I. 


1607. 

NoTwiTH>TAifDiif«  tha  ioMilar  pontion  of  ita  teat  of  au- 
thority, the  naval  aaoeodency  of  Bni^and  ia  of  comparatively 
recent  date ;  Soaio,  and  even  tht)  duninutive  conununitiea  of 
Portogal  and  Holland,  manifeetiniT  aa  sraat  a  ipirit  of  nautical 
enterpriae,  during  the  oentury  and  a  half  that  aucoeeded  the 
important  diaooverv  of  the  weaten\  bemiaphere,  and  that  of  a 
paaaage  by  aeaio  India.    Whilethtw  thnenationaweracolo. 
niaing  extenaivdkr,  and  laying  the  fitundationa  of  fiitura  atatea, 
the  aeamen  of  England  apeoded  tiWr  energiee  in  piedatory 
ezpeditiona  that «««  rapaoMua  in  tKtir  oiject  and  piiatiaal  in 
ipirit.    Familiar  ^tioal  cauaea,  hnyood  a  queatioo,  had  an 
influence  in  brin|^  about  theae  DBiiulta;  Rir,  while  the  ae- 
oeanon  of  the  Houae  of  Hapabourg  to  iVe  throne  of  Spdn  and 
.  "*?^  ***■***•  P**'^**»*«  •^  •*!»*'>**«  Europe,  aa  it  tf^ 
exialed,  England,  drivoi  cotirelT  ftom  her  ""ftHnwrtal  poaaef 
aiaoa,  had  Soothuid  for  a  troulikaome  na^ghbour,  and  Mand 
for  a  diaoontanted  and  turbulent  wnli^tcit  to  obeck  her  eflbrta 
abroad.    It  ia  probable,  too,  that  the  otvil  oontoala,  in  which 
cngiand  iraa  ao  kog  encaged,  had  a  aerioua  eflbet  on  her 
naval  adnnoMnent,  and  the  atruggle  that  Kwoeeaed  the  de- 
throne 7>  't  of  the  fiunOy  of  Stuart,  could  nut  AU  to  laaaen 
famlktm  i  M  wai^  Creeled  to  inlMeaia  withoiiH  the  territory 
noro  iwnwriialaly  m  diapote.    A«  a  oonaequeiKe  of  all  theae 
muaep,  or  of  that  portion  of  then  which  waa  in  aiialenoe  at. 
^  oonunenoeimot  of  the  aeventeentib  century,  when  Etogland 
•Bnoualy  commenced  the  buaineaa  of  ooloniaatico,  Spain, 
«w>oa,  and  Fbrtugal  wan  already  in  pomaaioB  of  what  wero 


mmAm 


"•iNMfllM 


14 


NATAL    HIBTORT. 


(IMt-M. 


^ 


then  oouideird  thn  mo«t  favourable  regioM  on  the  Amencan 
conUnent.     When,  indcMl,  the  experiment  wm  finally  and  iuc. 
ceMflilly  made,  individual  enterprise,  rather  than  that  of  the 
government,  achieved  the  object;  and   for  many  years  the 
power  of  the  crown  was  exorcised  with  no  other  aim  than  to 
aflbrd  an  ill-regulated,  and  frequently  an  insufficient  protec- 
tiop.    It  was  Englishmen,  and  not  England,  that  founded  the 
coimtry  which  is  now  known  as  the  United  States  of  America. 
The  vessels  employed  in  the  earliest  communications  be- 
tween the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  were  small,  vary, 
ing  from  fifty  to  two  hundred  tons  in  burthen.  The  expedition 
toPlymouth  was  firat  attempted  in  the  May  Flower,  a  bark  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty  tons,  and  the  Speedwell,  of  sixty  tons ; 
but  the  latter  proving  leaky,  after  twice  returning  to  port  to 
refit,  was  abandoned,  and  the  voyage  was  made  in  the  fomer 
vessel  alone.  The  May  Flower  sailed  from  Plymouth,  in  Eng- 
land, on  the  6:h  of  September,  and,  after  a  stormy  passage, 
made  Cape  Cod  on  the  9th  of  November. 

The  first  conflict  that  took  place  between  the  colonists  and 
any  of  their  civiliwd  neighboun,  occurred  in  1618,  when  an 
expcditiiHi  from  Virginia,  under  the  ordera  of  Captain  Samuel 
Argal,  arriving  on  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  made  an  attack 
,  on  the  new  French  poet  of  St.  Sauveur,  which  was  reduoed 
without  difficulty.    Argal  had  eleven  veaeels  with  him,  moet 
of  which,  however,  wore  quite  small,  and  his  (wn^nte 
amounted  in  the  whole  to  fourteen  li^ht  guns.    The  French 
were  entirely  without  artillery.    The  avowed  object  of  this 
enterprise  wu  fishing,  but  the  armament  has  induced  a  suspi- 
cion  that  the  end  actually  eflbcted  was  also  kept  in  view. 
Whatever  might  have  been  the  intention  ^n  fitting  out  Uie  firet 
force  under  Captain  Argal,  it  u  quite  certain,  that,  on  Jus 
return  to  Virginia,  he  was  forroaHy  sent  against  the  French  tn 
Acadie,  with  three  vessels,  better  prepared,  and  that  he  laid 
waste  the  whole  of  their  possesMons.    Both  of  these  occur- 
renoes  took  place  in  a  time  of  profiwnd  peace,  und  grew  out 
of  a  claim  of  the  English,  to  the  poasesnoa  of  the  whole  coast, 
as  fiir  north  as  the  46th  degree  of  latitude. 

On  his  return  to  Vij^ia,  Captain  Argal  entered  the  bay  of 
New  York,  and  demanded  possession  <i€  that  twntoiy  elso, 
under  the  piea  that  it  had  been  discovered  by  an  BoglistonaD. 
Hendrick  Christaens,  whom  Argal  styled  "  a  pretended  Dutch 
Governor,"  had  no  force  to  resist  such  a  claim,  and  was  com- 
pelled to  submit.    On  the  return  to  Virginia,  one  of  the  three 


mmmtmmm 


mtm 


llli^.] 


KATAL     HIBTOET. 


15 


v«MeU  omployea  m  thii  expedition  wu  lo«t,and  another  hav 
ing  bcon  driven  as  far  east  aa  the  Aiona,  proceeded  to  Eos 
Umd,  whdo  Ca;»tain  Argal  alone  got  into  the  CheMipeake. 
The  priaonera  taken  on  thia  occasion  narrowly  eaoaped  beinc 
executed  aa  piratea  I  • 

Thia  wat  the  Ant  warlike  maritime  expedition  attempted  by 
the  Amencan  coloniati,  if  a  few  partica  aent  in  boats  againat 
the  aavagea  be  excepted.    The  Dutch  were  not  diapoaaeaaed 
by  the  uaelesa  attempt  on  their  aettl«ntMMtt,  wUeb  appear*  to 
have  been  viewed  more  aa  a  protest  than  a  eoMiMt,  for  they 
continued  to  mcreaae  and  to  govern  themselves  R>r  near  half 
a  century  longer.    The  first  decked  vessel  built  within  the  old 
/    United  States,  of  which  we  have  any  account,  waa  conatruotod 
I    by  Schipper  Adrian  Blok,  on  the  banka  of  the  Hudaon,  and 
\  probably  within  the  present  limits  of  New  York,  dtirioA  the 
summer  of  1614.    This  vessel  Oe  Laet  terma  a  ••  yachti*  and 
describee  as  having  been  of  the  dimensions  of  thirty^ght  ftet 
keel,  forty.four  and  a  half  feet  on  deck,  and  eleven  feet  bewn. 
In  thia  "yacht"   Blok  passed  thn>ugh  Hell  Gate,  into  the 
Bound,  and  steerina  eastward,  he  diaoovered  a  amall  island, 
which  he  named  after  himself;  going  aa  fiir  aa  Ctoe  God,  bv 
the  Vineyard  passage.  ^^   ' 

According  to  the  same  authority,  the  Outeh  at  New  Amater^ 
dam,  who  had  conatructed  a  fort,  and  reinlbroed  their  ooiooy, 
aoon  after  boilt  many  more  small  vessels,  sloops  and  pfitiaauM. 
opening  a  trade  wUh  the  savages,  by  meana  of  the  nuiMroua 
baya,  aounds,  and  rivers  of  their  territory. 

It  w«a  also  in  1614  that  the  oelebnited  Cbpt.  John  flnhh 
V".  .r*"  England,  and  aaiied  oo  •  ooasting  voyafie.  with 
the  double  parpoRS.  of  trwle  and  diaoovery.  He  weBthimMlf 
inb  boat,  hav^  •  orew  of  only  eight  men.  and  the  praAn, 
as  well  as  tlM  d&oovenes,  abundantly  ivwaided  tlw  rialw. 

Aa  e»ly  as  in  1688  the  New  England  Company  enploywl 

five  ships  of  respectable  siae,  in  tte  trade  with  ihe^ooioiiT. 

Moat  of  these  vessels  wore  armed,  and  all  took  ooioniMi'in  tMr 

1    ?"*™  **!??*•    ^  ■"»"  •*«P  *~  b«H»  •!  or  near  Bortoo, 

\    in  1688,  whiota  was.  one  of  the  first  vessels,  if  iMt  the  llrat 

\   vessel  of  any  sIm  mostnioted  in  New  Bagland.   mt  the  pro. 

\ffeea  of  the  colony  of.  Maasachosetts  Bay  wm  so  ruid,  ttiat 

IB  1680  laws  were  passed  to  eneoaraae  the  flsheriearwUoh 

may  be  oonsidned  aa  the  elementary  achool  of  AoMrioaa  nmi. 

tieal  mterprise.    The  first  engagement  that  probnUy  ever  oc- 

curwd  between  inhabitants  of  the  Anmioan  colonies,  and  eoe. 


wmm 


mmm 


16 


NATAL     HIITOBT. 


[liM 


BUM  aflott,  WH  K  oooflkst  betwMn  John  0«Uop,  who  wm  •>• 
guwl  in  •  tnda  with  the  Indinna,  in  a  sloop  of  twonty  tons, 
ana  ■ome  Narragonaotto,  who  had  ■eized  upon  a  tnMll  vesat«l 
baionging  to  a  penoo  of  the  noma  of  Oldham,  known  to  haw 
baen  simuarly  occupied.  Aa  this,  in  a  certain  sense,  may  be 
daemad  tha  earliest  sea-fight  of  tha  nation,  it  is  worthy  to  be 
wlatcd. 

Some  Ume  in  May,  ISM,  Qallop  in  his  little  sloop,  manned 
by  two  men  and  two  boys,  himself  included,  waa  standing 
along  the  Sound,  near  Plum  Island,  when  he  was  compelled 
by  str«as  of  weather  to  bear  up  for  the  islands  that  form  a  chain 
between  Long  Island  and  Connecticut.    On  nearing  the  land, 
he disoovereaa  vessel  very  similar  to  his  own,  which  waa  im- 
mediately recognised  as  the  pinnace  of  Mr.  Oldham,  who  had 
Bailed  with  a  crew  of  two  while  boys  and  two  Narragansett 
Indiana.    Gallop  hailed  on  approaching. the  other  craft,  but 
got  DO  answer ;  and,  running  still  nearvr,  no  less  than  four- 
laen  Indiana  were  discovered  lying  on  her  deck.     A  canoe, 
oooveying  goods,  and  manned  by  uidiana,  had  just  started  for 
tiie  ahora.    Gallop  now  auspected  that  Oldham  had  been  over- 
powered by  the  savages ;  a  suspicion  that  was  confirmed  by ' 
the  Indiana  aliraing  their  cable,  and  standing  o#  before  the 
wind,  in  the  direction  of  Narrasanaett  Bay.    Satisfied  that 
a  robbery  had  been  oommitted,  Gallop  made  sail  in  chase,  and. 
running  ahnfffMH*  the  pinnace,  be  fired  a  volksy  of  duok-shot. 
at  th6  savagea.    'Ilie  latter  had  swords,  spears,  and  some  fire- 
arms, and  Uiey  attempted  a  reaistanoe,  but  Gallop  soon  drove 
then  below  to  a  man.    Aftaid  to  board  in  the  fiuM  of  such 
odda,  Gallop  now  had  recourse  to  a  novel  expedient  to  dialodge 
hia  tfciemiea.    As  the  pinnace  waa  virtually  adrift,  she  sooa 
foil  to  Iwward,  while  the  sloop  hauled  by  the  wind.    As  soon 
as  the  two  vessels  were  fiw  eoougb  asunder,  Gallop  put  hia 
helm  up,  and  ran  directly  down  on  the  weather  quarter  of  the 
pinnace,  striking  her  with  so  much  violence  aa  to  coma  near 
htang  her  over  on  her  aids.    The  ahock  so  OHieh  alarmed 
the  Indians,  that  aix  of  them  mahad  ibantically  on  deck,  and 
kued  into  the  sea.    The  aloop  again  hauled  off,  when  Gallop 
UiMed  an  anchor  to  her  bows,  end  running  down  on  the  pin* 
naoe  a  aaoood  time,  he  forced  the  flukes  throogh  the  aUea  of 
the  latter,  wMoh  are  represented  aa  having  been  made  of  boante. 
The  two  veaaels  were  now  fast  to  each  other,  and  the  crew  of 
the  sloop  bwan  to  fire  through  the  sides  of  the  pinnace,  into 
bar  hokL    coding  it  impoaaibie,  however,  to  drive  hia  ana- 


^^i*i 


mmmtitffut^glil(^fmitii/ifftiiimjiimftii!n  mMiiiumimmm 


[1«M 


'onty  torn, 
iwU  yeamA 
rn  to  Imv« 
m,  may  bo 
rthy  to  b« 

p,  immned 
I  staiidinfr 

compelled 
rmachun 
g  the  land, 
sh  waa  im- 
I,  who  had 
irragaiMelt 
■  cimft,  but 
than  four* 

A  canoe, 
started  for 

been  over* 
ifirmed  by' 
before  the 
tisfled  that 
ichaae,aod. 
r  duok-ahot. 
I  ■omeAre* 
•oca  drove 
oe  of  auch 

todialodge 
I,  aba  sooa 
,  Aa  aoon 
lop  put  hia 
arterofthe 


Bh  atamed 
I  deck,  and 
rheoGiOlop 
im  the  pin* 
beaideaof 
toorboarda* 
the  crew  of 
inaaoe,  toip 
ve  Ma 


1M&] 


NAVAL     HItTORT. 


17 


miae  up,  Oailoo  Uxmacd  hia  faata,  and  hauled  up  to  windwaH 
a  thirt  time,  when  four  or  five  rwra  of  the  Indiana  jumped 

***!!^    ;,  .?~  ^'^^  '"''  •PI»«'wl  "n  A»k  and  oftiedto 

aubmit.    Oallop  ran  alonnide,  and  received  thia  man  in  the 

atoop  J  be  WM  bound  hand*  and  feet,  and  put  into  the  hold.  An- 

other  loon  followed  thia  example,  and  he  waa  alao  raoaivwl  on 

fcoard  the  eloop  end  bound;  but,  Aarflil  if  two  of  hia  wily 

RMa  were  permitted  to  oommuaa  together,  that  they  would  lib- 

•rata  tbamaelyea,  the  aeoood  priaooer  was  thrown  into  the  aaa. 

Uwjr  two  Indiana  now  nnMunad  in  the  pinnaoe.    They  bad 

|Dt  uto  a  small  apartment  bebw.  end  being  armed,  they  ahow. 

II  ^lT"****!*^  ***  ****°^  thameelvea,  when  Oallop  ramovwl 

•II  the  gooda  that  remained  into  hia  own  aloop,  stripped  the 

pouiaoa  of  her  aaila.  took  bar  in  tow,  nod  hauled  up  for  the 

blanda  a|^     But  the  wind  iMresMig.  the  pinnace  was  out 

•dnil,  ud  she  diaappeared  in  the  direction  of  Narraganaett 

^y,  where  it  m  probable  she  waa  strwided  in  the  coune  of  • 

WW  hours. 

On  board  the  pinnaoe,  Oalkip  found  the  body  of  Mr.  Old. 
•wn^The  head  had  been  cleft,  the  handa  and  legs  were  much 
QMgM,  and  the  fleah  waa  still  warm.  The  corpae  waa  thrown 

Thus  terminated  this  extraordinary  oooffict,  in  which  Gd* 
*T.*fP**f"  •*  '■'•  ahown  as  much  conduct  aa  oouiaaek  and 
l!™^'*  "rf  .!""■*"**  ^  "^  auperiority  that  bdoogs  to 
proAasional  akill  on  an  element  like  the  sm.  Aa  U  wmoT  the 
last  importaooe  to  erer«to  a  raapeot  for  the  Engliah  name,  the 
nport  of  the  conqunor  on  thia  oooaaion  imittoed  the  fovem- 
MMtof  Masaachuaetta  to  aend  an  aapeditkm  agdiMt  the  of. 
fto4«,underMr.Bndeoolt,o«of  the  aa^^  ^ 

the  Indiana  much  uqury  u  the  deatructioo  of  thdr  dwalliiWB 
•irfcropa,  though  the  aavagea  themaelvea  took  to  fliglM.  llSa 

eipedbioo,  how«««r,  waa  foUowed  up  by  others  thM  oNt  with 
gnator  sunoasa. 

Tito  FVenoh  in  Acadiei,  alaovgavs  rise  to  twoerthrnwrfm. 
pwiaint  arnwroenta,  which  led  to  no  renuila  worthy  of  Mng 


r"^  Bf  th*  Anerioaa  oolooiata  appear  to  have  ow«d  their 
2I2!??*  t"  MJSwIwrrtandings  with  the  Dutch  of  the  New 
«Wkwiandfc  The  eolony  oOlew  Haven  hrf  ao  lir  Incieaa. 
edaatoeanee  •— ^1  oTono  huudred  and  fili^toos  to  b» 


'IpMMMWMi 


■Miii 


^ 


N 


It  NAVAL     HIITOftT.  [> 

biiUt  lo  Rbod*  lilwid,  u  mtiy  u  Um  ymr  ie4«.  but  Uw  atilii 
WM  kMt  at  M*  («  iwr  «rrt  pwHar-  •*ho»*'y  ••*•'• 'T?" 
eniiaer,  carrying  ten  gatm,  »nd  forty  men,  wm  wnploytd  by 
tba  united  coIoomh  of  lUrtfonl  and  N«w  lUmi,  to  orutan  In 
Long  liland  Sound,  with  •  vktw  lo  pravent  the  encronohmwrti 
of  llie  Dutch,  and  to  keep  open  the  commu'.kj«tk)0  J»>«  J^ 
wtlifiment*  they  hwl  mwle  on  th«  oppodt*  •hore.  In  1664, 
orden  were  received  (Vom  ParliMiient  lo  trMt  the  D"*^  •• 
•oemiea,  but  both  communitiea  wer«  rtiP  loo  young  and  fbebi* 
to  engage  in  a  warikra  that  waa  not  Ciuaidered  of  Daranmmt 
ally.  Nothing  efibotiva  appaan  lo  hawi  bMQ  dooa  undaf 
I  inalruotiona.  . 

At  a  later  day,  or  In  1668-6,  Coonactteut  kapl  awrtliw 
T  Watch  Hill,  in  order  to  pravaot  Ik* 


C 


amall  roewsl  cruiaing  off  ..-~.. , ...  -— -       f    .,^^.    ^ 

Narraganaatt  Indiana  flrom  oroaaing  to  attack  Iha  'ioatauK 
tribe,  which  had  been  taken  under  the  protection  of  tha  mlaiiy. 
Id  1640,  a  ahip  of  eome  eiae  waa  buih  at  Cambridga,  MM* 
aaohuaetts,  and  receiving  an  armantmit  of  fourteen  guM,  and 
•  onw  of  thirty  man,  aha  lailad  for  tha  Cuiary  lalas.  IW 
vomI  Wl  in  Willi  a  mmt,  of  twwHjr  guna,  and  mtm^  mm^ 
auppoaed  to  belong  to  Barbury,  whan  an  aotioi  took  ptari 
that  continued  the  entire  day.  The  rorar  reoeiviivf  aoma  s^arl* 
oua  injury  in  her  rudder,  the  New  England  ahip  waa  aiiabM 
toaaoapa.  Although  the  cooflict  between  Oailopand  thaWM. 
raoanaetta  ia,  in  one  eanae,  entitled  to  the  praoedeaoy,  *"•  •^ 
tk»  may  be  ae(  down  aa  the  firat  regular  naval  ooanbat  in  wkwh 
•By  American  veaael  ia  known  to  hare  been  tngNH* 

An  important  change  occurred,  in  1664,  in  the  •""™""  «^ 
tba  American  ooloniea,  by  the  capture  of  New  Natharlaadi 
flom  the  Dutoh.  The  TeaMila  employed  on  tMa  aarrioe  war* 
under  the  ordera  of  Sir  Robert  Carr,  while  CoIomI  Riekard 
Nieoll  commanded  tha  troope.  No  reaittanoe  waa  tmd».  In 
oonwqu*noe  of  thia  acoeaaioa  of  territory,  and  >!••  •*»f^<'*|7 
of  the  Swediah  aettiementa  on  the  Delaware,  tha  Baf^Wi  C3ol. 
ooiaa  had  entire  poaaeaaioo  of  tha  ooaat,  brtwaaa  tk*  my  oT 
Pundy  and  the  Floridaa.  ^   __  . 

While  the  Engliah  were  thua  occupying  the  caMl«  tkrFNMll 
w«M gradually  exlcoding tkemaalTea aloag tha tMnatOtrnt 
Lakaa  in  tha  mtarior,  drawing  a  belt  around  the  tanttMrlM  oT 
their  rivda.  In  lhaoouraeofevanta  of  thia  naftiw,<ia  la  BaW 
lanadwd  a  veaaei  often  tone  on  Lake  Onlnrio,iB  H1^6>wktiBk 
WM  the  fint  decked  boat  that  erer  aaiM 


m> 


mmmm 


IMM 


■MMi 


(lMi-«ii 

ml  Uwatilu 
•r,  •  mmII 

r.fAoj9i  by 

9  crutM  in 
roaohmMM 
M  witk  Um 
lnl6S4, 
I  Dutek  H 
[MidfUbto 
Mmmount 
doMuodtf 

prwNMt  Uw 
M  Montattk 
'tl(«noiooy. 


pter'4 


kf 


iiMiUwNtr> 
Mj,  thh  ««> 

ibat  in  whioh 

■MiMtioaor 
N«Uiarl«Mli 
■srvicM  *•!• 
Md  RieteH 
«iMMto.    In 

AMlbmlMkM 

BaftMiCM. 
1  tl»  Biyof 

dftlMFNMh 

«,4i«kBall« 
19T8,  wkMl 


l«M-Mi]  NAVAL     HIITOBT.  If 

Th«  (bllowUtfl  ywir,  ho  cauwd  •  voMal  of  dxty  tOM  to  ba 
laundwd  oa  Lakm  Krw. 

Th«  buocMimra  biifan  to  commit  dmrMkiioiu  in  tiM  Aimri- 
»••••••  •^«*«  ^  y^t  KMWj  •nd  pirariM  on  •  araalfer 

aoaw,  w«rB  no(  unrroquenl  •!  •  much  Mrlior  «l«y.     Thnan 

JMOOMMen  originally  wnw  mera  oullawa  in  the  Wwt  Imlia 

Uluda.     Compcjlwl  at  length  to  uniln,  ih«y  aaMmblvd  at  Iho 

TortUfM,  and  bogan  to  plunder  auch  veaanla  aa  appttwched 

Ihfl  ahore  j  moat  of  tbetr  robbsrioa  being  oommittiKi  by  meana 

of  open  boata.     The  Spaniah  vaMela,  in  particular,  became  the 

objeoia  of  their  aaaaulta ;   and  encouraged  by  aucocM,  they 

began  to  cruiaa  ftrther  frwn  the  land.     Their  numbera  rapidly 

loorwHad,  and  «ra  loog  they  variurad  to  make  deeo«i««  ooliha 

ooMla,  mora  eapeeiaiiv  <ai  tboaa  of  the  Bpaoiah  aatUemento,  ift 

^tMatoTpliuMtor.    It  la  a  mark  of  tbepaouiiar  character  of  tJM 

ag^  that  thaao  flaabcnam  oAea  commeiMMd  their  eolerpfiMa 

>  V*7V  '—They  apem  Uidr  U|.go(ten  wealth  aa  jproAitalaly 

■•  it  W  baae  obtaUd.  aad  Uka  mora  powarAii  bodU  c/oM, 

flaally  daatroyed  by  the  einaaata  angpniteiad  by 


laaoiiMoua 
outof  Aoadki, 


oftkegrcatnnmbarofpriyalamthitf  Mitd 

ditk»  aninal  Ptort  Boyal,  in  1000.    The  ibioaa  warn  ooi». 
mntidad  by  Sir  Willflb  Phippa,  and  amounlad  to  between  TOO 


and  SOO  men,  who  ware  embarked  in  eight  anall    

ThiaMpetUtioB  aailed on  the  28th  of  April,  and  mumad  on 

?•.****  ^¥Vf*  ^^^  •*"  •ucceeafal.    The  good  fertuae 
tMtaUMMBd  thwentarpriaa,  induced  the  gorenunent  of  Ma 

*"  "       -^        .^-      p^jj^  ^  ^^  ^  importan.  _ 
again  eonunanded,  haviag  h» 


obuaatta  to  •tiampt  aMKbar  againat  a  ptaoe  aa  important  aa 
Quabee.  Sir  William  Pliippa  again  commanded,  haviai  h» 
iwaen  tUrtjr  and  forty  yaaaela,  the  largeat  of  which  waa  of  44 


guna  and  MO  men,  and  the  whole  number  of  the  traopa  and 
aoainaa  ainptoyed  waa  about  2000.  Theae  foieea  mohad 
Quabae,  Oelober  the  Olli.  1000,  and  landed,  October  ike  Mb. 
Fka  foraa  diaambarkad  wm  about  1 9  or  IMO  man,  bar  it  «m 
rapulaad  without  much  fighting.  On  thair  ntom  to  Boatoa, 
the  akipa  war*  diapaned  by  a  gale,  and  Ultla  ciadit  waa  gaiMd 
1^  tka  undartakhig. 
/  Tka  Paiklwid,  a  ftNutb.rate,  waa  launolMl  in  tha  Piaonl» 
f«i^tal6M»  and  waa  tlM  Arat  ahip^>f4ka4ina  em  baik  in 

MiMkalarai  n^brtad  along  tha  eoaat.  about  tUa  Ume,  flon 
* —      of  tlw  Prinoh,  who  wwa  underatood  to  be 


lilliM 


in,  ,„  ,w  Am.rio.«  — .     W.  W-rn  in*«§.  fto-  •  >\m 
wlwUilibtory  ..f  that  |»rkid.  Iww  wuriy  li»Uuc«d  .  .^      .« 

ImmI,  gtaiMliag  in  mutual  aw*  of  ewh  othw.  oo  ll»  bigli  Ma*. 


oruiirtnc  in  the  AnMrionn 


CHAPTER  II. 

Tn  doM  of  tiM  ■moi-iiih  o.otiiry  *" .»»*f*'^l2 
Uw  uirwiM  b«l  «»  to  b«  Ui«  motl  Mnom,  tad  when  ^><M  T^ 

tould  ««m  to  to  tUof-ltiw  dkproporttoj-d  to  hu  d«dfc 

withTmoiM  of  privfttwn,  lh»i  oflm  oommittod  •gi»««»«n», 

w«r«  Bnabbi  wd  it  i.  -id  lh.t  they  wmrtim*  olundrod 
E  o^  cpunirymeo.     New  York  wm  not  «.Ui^  •""'f 

SI  the  .u.pioioi  of  hnving  -q-ipH -riinroi^ 
dwcriptionTindwy  unpl«i«nt  MraiiMi  nftctirf  U*  cbtnc 
Sl'Xlo  aktinjuwid  m«  of  U^Coooy.  ««  ;p;««*. 

Fktohw.  .moo,  olU..  »»  •PP'«'-'*^.ri^'S2rbdi» 
oMMMtry  to  wromber  tb.  chamowr  of  th.  .fo,  •_»•«  betni 

ll»ul«tionft«nflfhtingh«Mud.     .nd  pliw4.rin,  unUw. 

!3;oiSd,a;?th-u    .-^uJJt^iS.'Sis 

.mctb.  with  i«fti««i«y.»»«7»'f  •j;*<°"~'t:^TJ^^ 

iTcupidity;  Md  thrt  whfch  b  ft«l«J»^  «TJ£,^**JS 

Flrtcher.  or  wjy  ditioguiriiMl  ooloniil,  delilfn^  •N^f^" 
pimticl «l»«itu«. ; but  U  b  qiata P*-»j*y.'^r^'SS 
Cif«  bMn  ooiioernwl  in  tlw  «|uiMMBt  of  |>thr»toenih«»,t>rt 
mihiin — "t  oommittad  net.  which  th.  tow.  uiMiiwuMn  h 
hWiibto,  thnt  wh«i  .uoh  ymm,\»  hate  ««te«^  •['•SJ* 
y;^UKi  origin  of  tb.  Plunder  tb^r  »««^jJ5J»Sl 

with  Kidd,  wU.  «h««iu.nt  jtotonty  W-i*  to  hntg  bwi 
«•  much  owing  to  the  <«taf  with  whtcb  he  ««>«V»»«J?; 
by  gotemmmt,  and  wpported  by  men  of  cb*Mot«f  naa  it 


^^•■■i 


■■■■■Mi 


«§,  ttO' 

Mi    •  ».  ■■ 

n,  aixl 
tbifti 


(11M 


llol- 


pcHod  wlMa 
KmKiddwu 
Kitorkly  UMt 
D  hia  dMik. 
nuch  inr«atad 

I  «ggT«MK>M| 

theM  rov«ra 


iw  Dtuii<l«ra«l 
iiniy  eMHipt 
•Meb  of  ihia 
idUwclMnH> 
iba  governor, 
chargfM,  it  ii 
B,  •here  brinf 
lied  ■hips,  uM 
K^riiif  unlaw, 
till     <i   «■  Dot 
rhkhmancaa 
,wliMilMnptod 
itothock  the 
liter  Uoreraor 
•lyeapifMlUi 
mohnearaey 
s  ontieeie,  tkiMt 
jiiiieiiiaed     It 

llitwMi  them, 
;,  «H  the  caw  ^ 
I  to  bav^r 
led, 
uraotar*  aad  t* 


imi  NATAL   HiiToar.  n 

•ome  •(riking  ineid«)nto  lh«t  eocompented  hie  retvm,  ee  to  aay 
eilreordinary  •xtmtm  ■•  •  pirate.  The  (krto  of  hia  oaee 
•pMar  lo  have  been  aa  rullowa  i 

Much  cxiium  having  been  cMl  on  tho  colony  of  New  York, 
in  oonaequenoa  of  Iha  number  of  pimriea  thai  had  been  cjom- 
milled  by  rotera  aailing  fnMm  iha  port  of  thai  name,  lh«  govern- 
maot  in  Kaglaad  daamed  il  nereaaary  lo  Uka  aerioua  meaauroe 
lo  rapraaa  iIm  evil.  Thia  duly  waa  in  particular  cooAded  lo 
the  Karl  of  Bellamoni,  who  had  been  apuoinled  the  governor 
of  aeveral  of  the  cdoniea.  Mr.  Robert  LivingaU>n  hni»|wninf 
to  be  in  England  when  (he  iubjnci  waa  under  diacuaaion,  and 
being  a  man  of  influenoa  in  the  cdonv  of  New  York,  he  we« 
conferred  wifh.  aa  lo  Ihe  moat  adviaable  meana  of  putliog  an 
end  lo  the  praotioe.  Mr.  Uvingalon  adviaed  that  a  eruiaer  ot 
Ibroe  ahould  be  aeni  out  eipraealy  to  aaiae  all  lawkwe 


and  he  inlroduoed  to  Lord  Bellamoni,  (Japlaio  Wro.  Kidd,  whom 
aeaman  (^mliAxi  to  be  put  at  the  heed 


Captain  Kidd  waa  anid  lo  have  a  know. 
9/lhi 


he  rr-oommaaded  aa  a 
of  ou<  h  an  adventure. 

ledge  of  the  piralee,  and  o^  their  plaoea  of  raaort  {  and  at  tka 
■aine  time,  lo  be  a  man  on  whoae  integrity  and  aervioaa  Aill 
reliance  might  be  placed.  The  Arat  pn^aaitkm  waa  lo  maphj 
a  king'a  ehip  of  80  gune  and  lAO  men  oo  Ihia  aervice;  but  Ihe 
war  ret^uiring  all  the  regular  cruiaen,  it  ia  a  |mof  of  Ihe  apirit 
of  the  tiniea,  that  the  matfnr  waa  referred  to  private  entorprim, 
although  the  aaoctkm  of  government  wae  not  only  promieed, 
but  obtained.  Mr.  Livingeloo  took  oiM.flAh  of  Iha  aharaa,  and 
beoame  the  uaual  aeourtty  fer  the  lawAilnam  of  Kkid*a  pnv 
ceediaapi.  The  Lord  Chaaoelter,  and  aeveral  other  diatia. 
guiehed  DoMemeo,  look  ahane  in  the  adventure  aJeo,  and  the 
onmn  reeeiied  toiteelf  a  tenth  of  theproeeeda,  ae  a  proof  that 
it  uprovad  of  the  enlarmriae.  KkM  mcaivad  hie  oommiMkM 
and  hie  oidera  flrom  the  Earl  of  Bellamoat,' whom  he  Mbwed 
lo  Amerioa  ibr  that  purpoM,  aailing  ftom  Plymouth  in  Bnf. 
Uwd,  April  1604,  for  New  Yorii.  There  ia  much  raaaimibr 
thinkiiy  that  Captain  KkM  waa  not  guilty  of  any  UWgal  act 
himaalf;  unlU  ha  fcuad  that  hie  move  Umale  MUerprfaa  waa 
not  likely  lo  ha  eaooamAil.  In  the  eod,  however,  he  wwt  to 
thaeaatwwrd  of  the  CbpadTOood  Hope,  wharo  ha  cwtaialy 
commlMed  pbnoiaa.  thoi^di  to  what  aidfac  ia  now  ooMtbaatk 
He  wae  aoeuied  ottvn^tkg  Ihe  asa  between  Utiktmmmt  Imi 
the  ooaai,  Atm  Bnbalnaadel  to  Malabar,  and  of  eommiHiBi 
llw ueual  eieaaMi,  thoogh  it  ia  prohaUe  that thei«  WM  mucaioi. 
memtiop  aiiad  tip  wiQi  the  hfatpriei  aad  wnBonia  ottimikf. 


"k 


f|l4(l'.IIH(lllllillMW 


If  AYAL    HIiTC»T. 


(16M. 


Some  aocounto  confine  his  piracWw  to  a  iiuple  »hip,  tbough  t 
k  more  than  probable  that  he  had  a  diapowUon  to  tha  vocauoa, 
and  that  he  was  easily  diverted  from  thr  object  with  which  he 
had  sailed,  even  if  he  did  not  contemplate  piracy  on  qiutOng 
port     Aiiet  an  absence  o*"  about  thwe  years,  Kidd  returned  to 
the  American  coast,  first  appearing  off  the  east  end  of  I.ong 
Island.    About  thirty  miles  to  the  westward  of  Montauk,  pro- 
(eeted  from  the  ocean  by  the  southern  branch  of  the  island  jutt 
mentioned,  u  a  capacious  bay  that  obtains  its  name  from 
another  small  isluid,  which  is  so  placed  as  to  defend  it  against 
the  northeast  gales.    The  latter  island  contains  about  three 
thousand  acres  of  land,  and  ever  since  the  country  has  been 
Mttled,  or  for  two  centuries,  it  has  been  the  prooerty  of  an 
honourable  family  of  the  name  of  Gardiner,  which  has  giren 
its  name  to  both  the  island  and  the  bay.    The  latter  has  an 
average  that  has  long  been  known  to  seamen,  and  into 
Gai«Ucor*s  Bay  Kidd  sailed  on  this  occasioa.    Anchoring  near 
the  island,  be  landed,  and  buried  some  treasure;  entrusting 
Mr.  Gardiner  with  the  secret,  and  making  the  Ufe  of  the  latter 
the  pledge  of  his  fidelity.    This  effijcted,  the  pirate  agamsaikd, 
and  made  similer  depositu  on  other  parts  of  the  coast. 

After  a  short  interval,  Kidd  paid  and  diaeha^  hia  crew, 
and  h  is  said  buroed  bin  ship.    He  appeared  in  Boaton  in  WW, 
and  wna  immediately  seized  by  the  order  of  Oovemor  Brtla- 
nont.    Among  bis  paper,  was  found  a  record,  containing  lists 
of  hu  severaldepoatts,  which  it  is  probable  be  held  m  reserve 
lor  his  own  share  of  the  booty,  when  he  should  haya  made  hw 
peace  with  those  in  power  with  the  remainder.    The  autbon* 
ties,  however,  wete  mflexible,  and  oonmissionars  were  unrne* 
dtatelyr.ent  in  quest  of  Mm  buried  booty.    Whm  tbeae  pjrawis 
pieeentod  themselves  to  Mr.  Gardiner,  and  assured  hm  that 
Kiddwas  in  confinement,  that  gentleman  led  tl*8in_toji»  spot 
where  t)ie  booi  was  oonoealed,  and  it  was  reoovered.    The 
papera  of  the  Gardiner  fiimily  show  that  the  oooteatt  oTtho 
boKweie  bags  of  gold  dust,  bags  of  sold  bars,  the  latter  to  a 
coBsiderable  amount,  cdned  gold  and  sUver,  «lv«r  baiv,  pre- 
dons  stones,  silver  lamps,  &o.,  ^.,  in  all  to  the  amoturt  of 
naar  twenty  Uiousand  doltki*.    Most,  if  not  aU,  of  the  other 
deposits  w«e  also  obtained.    Kidd  was  sent  to  BnfH^  tned 
and  oandemned.    The  indictments  were  ibr  both  murder  and 
pimey,  but  being  fiwnd  gmlty  of  the  first  crime,  he  was  never 
^  for  the  lost.    He  was  not  executed,  untU  May  the  Mfc. 

noi. 


^^^*ii 


»,  tbough  ,t 
ta  Toeatioa, 
h  which  be 
on  qukting 
retiimfedto 
nd  of  I<oiig 
atauk,  pro- 
9  iclaad  jui:t 
name  frovn 
id  it  agKinst 
about  three 
ry  baa  been 

rtty  of  an 
haagiren 
tier  baa  an 
n,  and  into 
sinring  near 
;  entmating 
of  the  latter 
again  saiM, 
•at. 

tdbia  ei«w, 
(ton  in  1090, 
emur  Mla> 
Btaiqing  lista 
Idinreaenre 
iTemadahia 
rbe  authori* 
werainune- 


Maapetaona 
rad  htm  that 
m  to  the  not 
mrad.  TiM 
BleDtt  oT'tho 
le  latter  to  a 
f«rban,pre- 
e  arooeurtof 
of  ^  oter 
ioi^aiid,  tried 
inorder  and 
he  waa  never 
MaytheMhi 


llOi-U.] 


NATAL    HISTOBT. 


33 


Tbtt  year  that  Kidd  waa  aent  to  England,  aeven  piratea  were 
eseouted  in  Cbarleaton,  South  Carolina,  thatcoaat  ItaTing  been 
much  infealed  with  theae  robbera. 

From  an  early  day  the  poaaaaaion  of  Port  Ruyal  in  Aoadie, 
appeara  to  have  been  a  fiivourile  ol^eot  with  the  ootoniata,  moat 
probably  from  the  great  interert  they  felt  in  the  fiahariea.  We 
have  already  aeen  that  expeditiona  were  aent  againat  thia  pbuse, 
in  the  earlier  ware,  while  we  now  find  no  Ioh  than  three  un> 
dertaken,  with  the  aame  olgect,  in  the  war  of  170»-^18.  The 
firat  of  theae  expeditiona  waa  aet  on  foot  in  1707,  being  alraoat 
purely  of  colonial  origin.  It  aailed  in  May,  in  twenty«tiu«e 
timnaporta  and  whale^boata,  under  the  convoy  of  the  Daplferd 
man-of>war.  Captain  Stuokley,  accompanied  by  the  Provinoe, 
oalley.  Captain  Southaok.  Thia  expedition  edbotad  nothing. 
The  aecond  attempt  waa  not  made  until  the  year  1709,  when 
an  enterpriae  on  a  krger  aoale  waa  planned.  Aooordlag  to 
TruKbuU,  the  colonic  eaat  of  Cooneeticut  ware  ordered  to 
raiae  1800  men  for  thia  imdertakinfkandtopnmde  tranaporta, 
pik>ta,  and  prcnriaiooa  for  three  monUw,  while  Conneoticttt  itaelf 
and  the  more  aoutbem  provinoee,  were  to  aend  a  force  of  1000 
men,  by  land,  againat  Montreal.  Tire  meritima  part  of  the 
expedition  waa  abandoned,  aAer  waiting  three  montha  in  the 
port  o(  Boaton  for  the  AriUah  ahipa  that  weifs  to  convoy  it,  and 
to  aid  in  aubduing  the  plao*.  The  attack  on  Mootraal  waa 
dao  given  up,  for  want  of  the  axpeoled  oo^^pemtion.  The 
third  attemirt  waa  made  in  1710,  when  a  Cokmel  NidM^ 
aon,  of  tiw  Bnpliah  aervice,  waa  etruated  with  the  command. 
On  thia  oeeaami  the  preparationa  were  made  ooi^oiBtly  by 
theenywa  ead  Aa  provinoea,  the  latter  fiinuafaing  the  taoa- 
povta  and  aevaral  oroiaNa.  The  fleet  conraied,  in  all,  of  80 
aail ;  vis.  three  foardi.ralea,  two  fifth-ralea,  fiv«  fligalaB,  a 
bond*  ketch,  the  Province,  gaUsy,  and  tw«oiy«foar  tranaporte. 
In  these  veaada  were  eanMrked  a  iregimeot  of  marinaa,  and 
five  raginwnte  of  provinciala.  The  expediinii  aailed  #Km 
Boaton  on  the  iSth  of  Smtember,  arrived  off  Pcwt  Rmral  on 
the  34tb,  and  co  die  let  of  October  the  pfawe  aafapitted.  Ita 
name  waa  changed  to  Annapoiia,  by  whktt  anpdialioo  it  ili  yet 
knawa.  Stfamihled  by  thia  aoeceaai  •  atill  aiora  important 
•ttMnpt-WM.ande  ki  1711,  againat  the  FrMeh  paaatMiona 
on  the  baaka  of  the  St.  Lawreaoa.  Bngland  mam  a^peoned 
dkpoeed  to  pot  forth  hnr  pwer  in  eaniaat,  end  a  flert  of  fif- 
teen aail,  twdvo  of  whieli  wore  aent  diieotiy  flmn  Ebghuld, 
•nd  thno  of  wVkh  bad  been  atatkmed  on  the  ooart,  were  put 


r 


/ 


94 


NATAL    HllTORT. 


(1711. 


under  tho  orden  of  Vioe-adminl  Sir  Hovenden  Walker,  for 
that  purpoee.  In  this  fleet  were  wvend  ships  of  the  line,  aod 
it  WM  accompanied  by  forty  transports  and  six  store  vessels. 
Fhre  of  the  veteran  regiments  that  had  served  under  Narlbo> 
rough,  wore  sent  out  with  the  fleet,  and  two  regiments  raised 
in  New  England  being  added  to  them,  the  land  forces  amounlod 
to  between  6000  and  7000  men. 

After  considerable  delay,  the  fleet  sailed  on  the  80th  of 
July,  1711,  when  the  Governor  of  Massaohuaetts  ordered  a 
ftat  to  be  observed  every  Thursday,  until  the  result  should  be 
known.  On  the  14th  of  August  the  ships  entered  the  St.  Law. 
NDoe,  and  on  the  ISth  the  admiral,  in  order  to  collect  his 
transports,  put  into  the  bay  of  Oasp<.  Here  he  remained 
until  the  30th,  when  the  fleet  proceeded.  On  the  30th  the 
shipa  w<ere  off  soundings,  out  of  sight  of  land,  and  enveloped 
in  a  fog,  with  a  gale  at  B.  S.  E.  The  fleet  now  brought  to 
with  the  shms'  heads  to  the  southward.  Notwithstanding  this 
precaution,  It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  whole  of  them  were 
m  inumneot  jeopardy  among  die  rooks,  islands,  and  currents 
(^  the  northiahore,  whkdi  was,  owmover,  a  ke  shore.  Some 
of  the  veasds  saved  themselvea  by  anchoring,  among  which 
WM  the  Edgar,  70,  the  admiral's  own  ship;  but  eight  ttum- 
ports  were  lost,  together  with  a  thousand  peoplo{  and  the  ei« 
pedition  was  abandonsd.  The  admiral  now  dismissed  the  pro* 
viaoial  troops  and  vessels,  and  sailed  forBn^and  with  the  r»> 
mainder  of  the  fleet.  These  signal  disosters  led  to  loud  con. 
plaints  and  to  Utter  recriminations  between  the  English  and 
the  American  oCoers.  To  the  latter  was  attributed  a  fotal 
loea  of  time,  in  raising  their  leviea  and  making  other  piepara- 
tioas,whieh  brought  the  expedition  too  late  in  the  season ;  and 
they  wera  also  aooused  of  ilirnishing  incompetent  pifota.  It  ia 
prohaUe  that  the  first  accusation  waa  not  without  foundiOion, 
since  it  has  been  a  known  natbnal  foiling  to  dder  all  military 
preparations  to  tho  latest  possible  moment,  (Iron  the  day  the 
country  has  been  peopled ;  though  the  last  was  no  doubt  un* 
merited,  as  there  could  be  no  motive  for  Ibndriunc  aav  other 
pilota  than  the  best  that  the  ookMuee  poaseaead.  On  the  part 
of  the  Americans,  the  admiral,  i>nd  the  Eng^  ooorniandars 
in  genvnU,  wera  said  to  be  ofanknatad  and  iodiqwasd  to  take 
advice;  a  dwige  quite  as  likely  to  be  true,  as  it  alao  aocords 
with  natuNMl  oiiaiiMiier,  and  mora  espedaliy  with  the  super* 
oiUousness  with  whksh  the  English  wera  known  to  regard  tha 
provincials.    The  admiral  threw  the  rseponaibmty  of  having 


mn 


(ITll. 


( 


1717.J 


N/.VAL    HISTOBT. 


hove-to  the  fleet  on  the  piloto,  who,  in  their  turn,  declared  that 
it  was  done  contrary  to  their  advice.  Some  French  pilots  ara 
■aid,  by  Charleroiz,  to  have  aloo  warned  the  admiral  of  hi* 
danger,  but  he  equally  disregarded  their  information.  It  is  in 
favour  of  the  provincials,  that,  one  small  victualler  excepted, 
none  of  their  own  vessels  were  lost,  and  that  the  crew  of  this 
victualler  was  saved.  Many  of  the  pilots  were  sent  to  Eng- 
land to  be  examined  before  the  Privy^CouncU,  but  no  invesu- 
gallon  into  the  affair  took  place.  The  loss  of  the  admiral's 
papers  is  thought  to  have  put  an  end  to  the  contmnplated  in. 
quiry,  the  Edgar  having  been  blown  up,  by  accident,  at  Hy. 
mouth,  shortly  afler  her  return,  by  which  event  400  men  lost 
their  lives ;  thus  tenninatinff  a  most  disastrous  expedition  by  a 
dire  calamity.  It  ought  to  be  mentioned,  that  the  oolmies  met 
the  charge  of  delay,  by  showing  that  the  orders  to  raise  tR>ops, 
and  to  make  the  other  requisite  prqiaratioiis,  were  received 
onlv  sixteen  days  before  Sir  Hovendeo  Walker  arrived  in  port 
withhisfleet.  ^ 

The  first  DQgro  slaves  brought  into  the  country,  were  landed 
from  a  Dutch  ma&K>f.war,  at  James  Town,  in  1620.*  When 
these  poor  Afiicans  were  obtained  u  not  now  known,  bat  they 
were  most  nrobably  the  victinw  of  perfidy.  The  inoiease 
among  the  blaelrs  was  vary  skivr,  however{  for  thirty  yeara 
later  the  whites  of  Yn^jmk  were  said  to  outnumber  the  ne> 
gmes,  in  the  proportion  of  fiAy  to  one;  and  even  when  the 
coloay  had  been  settled  eeveoty  years,  the  slaves  wen  not  at 
•11  numeroiia.f 

The  first  American  vasari  engaged  fai  the  slav»-ttade,  of 
which  we  have  any  aoooont,  sailed  finom  Boston,  for  the  coast 
of  Guinea,  in  1646,  havina  been  fitted  out  by  Thomas  Keyser 
\  and  James  Siaitlii  The  last  of  these  worthies  waa  a  member 
^^of  the  church.  To  the  endit  of  the  people  of  Boston,  their 
■ense  of  right  revolted  at  the  aot,  the  parties  oonoeraed  wera 
arraigned,  and  the  slaves  were  entered  to  be  resumed  to  their 
native  cQuntrr  at  the  iMd)iio  expense. 

We  tum  with  aatiaftefion  to  the  whale-fisheries.  T&ecom 
menoement  oS  this  inanlv,  lucrative,  and  hardy  pursuit,  datan 
»om  an  early  period  in  tte  history  of  the  ooontry.  Theiriiale 
fivQQenting  the  Ainerioan  ssas  at  that  time,  the  peode  of  tba 
cowte  kept  boats,  organiaed  tbemaelvae  into  gangs,  and  when. 
«v^  a  spoot  was  seen,  they  would  launch  in  punuft.    Thb 


tnu. 


mm 


NATAL     HIITOKT. 


[17S0-44. 


/' 


imstthr  ■yrtem  praruled  imny  ywini,  until  sIoom,  and  other 
Miiaicfmft,be«Mi  to  be  employed  in  the  offino.  TheeeveewU 
would  nmae  the  coaat,  •■  tkr  louth  m  the  Weet  Indies,  and 
M>rth  toDet  ie'e  Straite.  They  oocaaionally  oroMed  to  tte 
Aaone,  whero  a  rich  booty  wae  ■oowtimes  obtained  in  tVs 
Mwnnaceti. 

^1w  whale-fishery  on  a  larger  aeale,  dales  firam  about  the 
niddle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  Massaohusetts  in  par* 
iKular,  engaged  extensiTely  in  the  eniarprise.  This  colonv 
alone  is  audto  have  had  no  less  than  three  hundred  veasets 
employed  in  the  northern  and  southern  whale-fisheries,  pren- 
ouSy  to  the  war  of  the  Revolutioc.  Her  vessob  led  the  way 
to  the  South  Atlantic,  to  the  African  coast,  and  to  the  Padflo 
Ocean. 

After  the  war  which  was  terminated  fajr  the  peace  of  Utrecht, 
Most  of  the  maritiine  oolonies  employsd  a  species  of  guarda- 
costas,  snwll  armed  veasela,  that  ware  maiataiaed  ior  the  up- 
piesMon  of  mraoiea  and  for  the  general  protection  of  the 
Inasla.  Some  of  theae  vesseb  were  oommandMl  by  young 
cAoers,  who  aflerwards  rose  tomofa  or  less  distinction,  either 
■t  home,  or  in  the  Britiah  service.  Amoog  others  was  Lieu- 
tenant  Weosler,  aikarwarda  Outain  Wooslsr,who  comaaaoded 
the  armed  vessel  employed  by  MsssanhiisiHfs.  TMsgoitfeman 
waa  subeequeotly  kOkd  at  Daabury,  during  the  Revolutaon, 
holding  the  rank  of  a  Brigadier-General  in  the  miUtia  of  his 
pativa  stale. 

England  declaied  war,  m  17S0,  ajunst  Spain,  and  the 
Ameikan  ColoBkM  bocaooe  the  seat  of  many  of  her  prepare, 
tiona  and  levies.  Nativaa«^  the  oountrr  were  much  employed 
in  the  diflbient  expsdiliooe,  and  U  ia  well  known  that  the  estate 
which  has  since  acquired  ao  much  oelebritv  o«  accmmt  of  He 
having  been  the  property  of  Washington.  <*lained  the  appeUa.. 
tion  of  Mount  Ysvoon  from  the  drcumrtanca  «Mt  aneUer 
biother.fmn  whom  that  groat  man  inherited  it,  *ad  aervwl  m 
the  celebrated  attack  against  Carthagena,  under  the  admiral  of 
that  name.    In  n41,dieookmaesupplisd  wanyofthntians. 

ports  SMtt  agiiinft  Cuba. 
The  year  1744  became  memorable  in  the  UilMy  of  the 

ooloniss,  by  another  declaratkm  of  war  ■gw«"*J*«'^2 
thb  time  the  importanoe  of  aU  the  AmeiJMn  provmcea,  whetAer 

English,  Fmieh,  or  Spanish,  was  certain  to  render  them,  more 

ortess,  the  seat  of  the  contests;  and  the  |ieBt  European  statea 

interested,  were  now  found  seriously  exhibiting  their  power  m 


(17S0-44. 
and  other 

iKliM,aiid 
wd  to  Uw 
wd  io  tWs 

•boat  the 
itteiniMur* 
hie  coioav 
ledreMieui 
rieetpreri* 
kI  the  way 
the  PMsiflc 

of  Utrecht, 
of  fluarda* 
br  thewp- 
MO  of  the 
by  yoang 
lioo,  either 
I  waeLieu* 
leounaoded 


I744-«S.] 


NATAL     RIITOKT. 


Rerolntioa, 
iUtiaof  hi* 

in,  and  the 
K  picfMura' 
b  employed 
ittheealate 
Bountof  its 
theappella- 
at  an  elder 
idMnredin 
ladnmalof 
ifthitiaiM* 

ilsfy  of  the 

'maea.  By 
sea,  whether 
'  thoBi,  more 
QManstatea 
NT  power  in 


the  Weetem  hemisphere.  The  short  duration  of  the  war,  pio> 
bably,  alone  prevented  America  from  being  the  scene  of  those 
severe  struggles  that  were  deferred  a  few  years  by  the  peace 
•  of  Aix  la  Chapelie.  Short  as  was  the  contest,  however,  it  af< 
forded  the  colonists  an  opportunity  of  manifesting  both  their 
spirit  and  their  reaouroes,  by  an  expedition  against  Lo«iis< 
hourg. 

The  French  had  tons  been  aware  of  the  importanoe  of  a 
port  that  commanded  ttie  entrance  of  the  Sk  Lawrence,  as 
GKbraltar  oommandi  the  approach  to  the  Mediterranean,  and 
vast  sums  of  money  had  been  expended  on  the  fortitoaions  of 
Louisbourg.  It  is  said  that  no  tees  than  96,000,000  were  ap- 
propriated to  this  obfeet,  and  a  quarter  of  a  century  had  been 
consumed  in  the  preparations.  The  place  was  so  formidable 
as  to  have  been  termed  a  seeood  Dunkirir.  So  ooosdous  had 
Massachusetts  beooroeof  her  streoglh,  however,  that  no  sooner 
was  the  declaration  of  war  known,  than  Governor  Shiriey  laid 
propeeitioos  before  the  English  ministry  and  the  colonial  legis* 
lafure,  for  the  redootioa  of  this  gitui  naval  and  military  sta- 
tk».  The  General  Court  of  Maaaaehusetts,  at  first,  was  aflmtd 
to  embark  in  so  serious  an  enterprise  witfioat  assurances  of 
support  from  home,  as  England  waa  thsoaflbctionatriy  tenned, 
biM  the  people  of  the  colony  getting  a  knowledge  of  the 
Governor's  wishes,  seoooded  him  so  strongly  with  petitions, 
that  the  measure  was  finally  carried  by  a  majority  of  one. 
Conneetient,  Rhode  bland,  and  New  Hampshire  letA  their  aid, 
awl  by  the  S0(b  of  March,  1746,  the  expeditioa  was  rewly  to 
sail.  Not  a  British  soldier  was  employcNi,  and  when  the  net 
left  Boston,  it  was  with  very  uneertaiahopea  of  being  auppoited 
,by  Any  of  the  King's  ships. 

The  land  iimses,  all  levies  of  New  Ea|daad,  no  other  coletty 

joining  in  the  erteqwise,  wwe  led  htCtAouA  William  Pap* 

nerel,  of  Kittery,  in  Maine,  and  the  fleet  was  oonmanded  by 

Captain  Edward  Tjn^,  of  the  Maisaolnisells  edkioki  marine. 

The  naval  part  of  thne  foixsea  cioisisted  prineipally  of  vessels 

equ^pad,  or  hired,  for  this  espedbl  seirioa.    There  appear  to 

have  been  twalve  in  all.  besides  tkbe  transports,  the  largest  car- 

rjring  bat  90  goai.    The  land  Anas  amonnled  to  4070  men. 

From  the  vanoos  and  eoMradietonr  aeooonta  of  this  ama- 

ment,  w«  gaOer  the  following  lIsC  of  the  ooiooial  emrisars  en< 

/gaged  fai  dCe  expedHion,  vis:  8h^  Massnc^csalls,  90,  Com- 

rHnodoire  Tyur ;  Cesar,  20,  Captain  SoelKng;  Snows,  Shirley, 

V90,  Captain  Ronse  {  Prince  of  Orange,  lOi  Captain  Smethurst ; 


Y 


98 


NATAL    HISTOftT. 


[1748 


Brig  Bocton  Puckot,  16,  Captain  Fletcher ;  and  Sloopa,  — -— , 

13,  Donahue ; ,  8,  Saundera ;  ,  Botch ;  a  ahip  hirad 

by  Rhode  Island,  30,  Captain  Oriffeo,  and  two  veaaels  of  18 
gun*  each,  belonging  to  Connecticut. 

The  fleet  reached  Canaeau  on  the  4th  of  April,  where  it  !«• 
mained  some  weeks,  to  be  joined  by  the  levies  of  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Connecticut,  as  well  as  to  allow  time  <br  the  ice  to 
dissolve  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cape  Breton.  For  the  first 
time,  probablv,  in  the  history  of  the  colonies,  laroe  military 
preparations  had  been  made  in  season,  and  the  result  triumph* 
antly  showed  the  benefit  of  the  unwonted  alacrity.  Here 
Com.  Warren,  of  the  British  navy,  joined  the  expedition,  with  • 
part  of  the  squadron  from  th«  WesUlndies,  in  which  seas,  and  on 
the  American  coast,  he  had  long  commanded.  This  ezoelkmt 
and  efficient  officer,  than  whom  there  was  not  a  braver  in  the 
British  marine,  brought  with  him  the  SuiMrb,  60,  and  three 
ships  of  forty  guns ;  his  broad  pennant  flving  in  the  former. 
Of  course,  be  assumed  the  command  of  the  naval  operations, 
though  great  distrust  appears  to  have  exialed  between  him  and 
C^qoel  Pepperel  to  the  last  After  a  oooference  with  the 
latter,  he  weo^  off  Louisbowg,  which  be  blockaded. 

LouisboiKg  was  bvesled  by  land  on  Uw  30th  of  April,  and 
■Act  a  vigiKoos  siege  of  forty-seven  days,  during  which  tinw 
a  severe  cnnnooade  was  carried  on,  the  plaoe  sabmittod.  TIm 
Franeh  <k4(i  w«m  krnt  flying  for  some  time  aftar  the  surranderk 
by  which  rase  two  Bait  ladiamen  and  a  South  Sea  ship,  all 
rkshly  Udea,  wera  decoyed  into  the  mouth  of  the  harbour  and 
captured.    Tbejalueoftheae  three  vesaebbu  been  estimated 


I  high  as  •8,000,000. 
While  eniia 


„  _.,  cruising  off  the  port.  Commodore  Wanen  eqitursd 
the  Fraaeh  nuuH»f-war,  VigOaat,  60,  with  troops  awl  smiiee 
for  the  garriaon.  This  important  event,  no  doubt«  was  of  gnat 
moment  to  the  tesult  of  the  sieoe.  .^ 

Although  the  naval  part  of  tha  colonial  ezpeffikm  coold 
have  been  of  no  gnat  account  after  the  arrival  of  Coaunodnra 
Wanen,  it  took  the  sea  with  oreditabia  vigoar,  ••  soon  as 
Louisbourg  had  submitted.  The  Sbirlev.  Galley,  SO,  Captain 
Rouse,  or  as  the  vessel  is  sometimes  oallMl,  the  Snow,  JHurter, 
captMied  e%bt  French  vesseU,  and,  in  one  instaooe,  she  bronght 
in  two,  taken  after  an  obetinale  and  gallant  feskMuaoe.  For 
thiaex^,  tbit  officer  received  the  oomwiisinn  of  a  captain 
in  the  K^ing'i  nrvke. 

No  leas  thin  400  privaleen  am  said  to  havo  been  oat  litgM 


n4M0.] 


NAtAL     HIITOtr. 


(he  eoloniet  in  this  war,  but  the  number  ia  eo  Incredible  M  to 
gire  rise  to  the  ooojeoture  that  the  eetiroete  inoludea  letters  of 
inerque  and  boeta  on  the  coeat.  Nothing  worthy  of  muoh 
notice  occurred  in  America,  during  thia  abort  war,  beaidaa  the 
oepture  of  LouiaU>urg,  and  thia  place  waa  realorad  lo  the 
French  at  the  peace. 


CUAPTBRni. 

Turn  peace  of  Aix  ia  Chapelle  feuod  the  MTigatioB  of  the 
Amwiceia  odoniea  in  a  very  flouriahiof  oooditioiu  Mora  than 
a  ceotunr  had  elapeed  aince  the  aattlemanta  had  paaaad  the 
ordeal  or  tbDiriaftot  atiugyles,  and  although  diirtaat  ftom  eaok 
other,  and  labouring  under  the  diaadvantagee  of  a  aoatlared 
popuktioD,  they  were  fhat  riaing  to  the  dicahy  and  powar  of 
stalea.  The  neceaaity  of  maintaining  all  tlalr  nmra  uaporiaiU 
oomnnooicationa  by  wKier,  had  a  dinol  laad«Bey  to  eMouraga 
a  diapoeition  to  the  aea,  and,  although  withoM  a  regular  iv«r> 
like  marine,  their  meroantila  toaaage  pfobrithr  equalled  UmI 
of  the  mother  ooontry,  wheo  ooaaidered  fai  idhraMe  to  popu* 
latioB.  The  aurober  of  eools  in  all  the  prorkwee,  at  IMI 
-period,  did  not  mueh  exceed  a  million,  if  the  IndfauM  ba  enluM 
ftom  the  eonputttioa.  OfthatooMcbitieBoleaiy  toaMdt 
with  aocuraoy,  though  we  poaaew  auOeiene  authority  by  wiiab 
tolbmisoaegeaefaleatimatoa.  The  year  of  the  peaoa,  800 
teaaeii  ai«  laid  to  bh«e  cleared  flonttM  afagle  potr  of  BoataB, 
and  490  to  have  enterad }  thia  waaeiehiaMy  ofipeaHiiaad 
fiahiag  veaaaia.  At  Fortanootb,  Natw  HanpahiNt  thara  mn 
181  oUfanoaa,  aadTI  eiitiiae,baaidea  MM  twaathtvaawia  ia 
regular  anpioyaeot  The  trade  of  New  YoritaadPMWU. 
pBa  waa  kpet^BB  that  ofBoetoB,  bat  eta  reapactaMa.  thm 
ir  aooeeadiag  that  of  iba  paMa,  the  daa^ 


a.waMtfi,awl  thaeetiiaaaotr  ivMia 


in  1740,  e*  Ike 

at 
BoatoB,  Airibg  te  mm  period,  liad  004  daaraneaa.  aai  400 
In  ITOO^a  year  itti^MBh  the  aavigalioa  had  aaHiUy 
^mimahed,  the  daaiaaooB  of  the  ftnner  poti««f«iOO,aMl 
the  eatriea  399.  Many  parte,  wkksh  have  aioee  ieai  moet  of 
their  aaWgatioM,  thai  ea||oycd  a  reepeelable  ttadoi  uaong 


\ 


mi^mJf 


30 


NATAL    KIITOET. 


inio-t» 


whkh  amy  be  mentioiMd  Newport,  Rhode  hland,  aad  P*rth 
Anboy,  New  Jenwy. 

Up  to  this  period,  the  comnaon  white  oak  of  the  foreet  wu 
the  wood  principellv  used  in  iievel  cooetruotioin,  though  the 
oheetnut  wm  elio  ibuod  aorvioeeble  in  particular  parts  oT  the 
fVames.  But  a  now  era  in  ship-building  was  at  hand,  through 
the  introduction  of  a  wood  that  greatly  abounded  in  the  more 
■outhern  maritime  regions  o(  British  America.  In  1700,  a 
vessel  called  the  Live  Oak  arrived  in  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina, having  been  built  of  the  invaluable  timber  named,  which 
was  now  discovered  to  bo  one  of  the  best  materials  Tor  naval 
architecture  known.  The  Live  Oak  is  said  to  have  been  the 
firct  vessel  in  which  this  wood  was  ever  used. 

The  tranquillity  established  by  the  treaty  of  Aix  la  Chcpelle, 
like  that  piodoced  by  the  peace  of  Utrecht,  was  of  short  oon- 
tiauanoe.  DUpulos  early  oomnnenoed  between  the  English  and 
Franob  provinoes,  io  lelatkNi  to  their  boundaries ;  and  an  in- 
laad  war  actually  broke  out  bslween  them  in  1754,  though  the 
pMweef  Europe  waa  not  immediately  disturbed  by  tUs  remote 
•Dd'kwd  coolest.  This  singular  slate  of  things  eontinued 
thfoughout  1706,  and  the  campaign  of  that  year  was  one  of 
the  most  ioiportant  that  had  then  occurred  on  the  American 


yii 

not 
After  many  in- 


bstted  to  latton  of  marque  and  privateere. 

eAotual  attampts  at  an  aeoonmoclatkNi,  however,  the  King  of 

Ch«at  Britafai  mads  afonwd  deelaratiooof  war  oolhe  17th  of 

>     May,  1700.  .    ,.    .    »      . 

Bach  was  the  commeiieement  of  the  irtraggle  that  in  Aasarica 

to  fluBiliaily  called  "the  oM  PiNMMsh  war.**    AUhourii  this 

eertsst  wai  of  the  last  fanpurtaBoa  to  the  ookiaws,  by  driving 

tbvFreneh  firom  their  part  of  the  eooliMnt,  and  by  taaviogthe 

savages  wtthool  aa  ally,  its  evaats  were  mora  wopiBriy  ooa- 

DMiad  with  the  movaaeMs  of  tnnies,  than  Willi  aay  uural 

oaatatknis  of  manitiide,  so  lir  aa  the  kftter  babiig  to  the 

aoMaoeofthtowork.    The  lagiaBiBi  of  dw  ww  ay  «f 

trooBi  bntia  theend,  the  esfiUatel  Bart  of  OtfllMni  soe- 

caeMin  isAMiag  a  pertk»  of  kto  own  eaargy  iM)  tiw  <MNmdl8 

of  ll»  Kkt,  Mtf  Ihm  that  nioMMrt  tha  «BIM«  bHBiaBt  aoeosw 


tlMt 


Moa  wwsigBed  on  the  lOtk  of  Febraarj,  ITOt,  i 
day  FiMca  oaaiad  to  eUtin  any  poiHoB  of  tlw  i 


-'■jfeaaiULMia'jfc . . 


ITO-lt] 


NAVAL     HIBTOBT. 


91 


Coadiwnt  north  oTLoukwiM,  with  the  McefKkm  of  two  \ad§. 
nifioMrt  fiahing  stitfioiw,  dmt  th«  outlet  of  the  flt  UwTwnoe. 
The  concfueeta  or  tkia  war  were  ea  incipient  map  townnk  the 
•ventuel  indepeofiknoe  of  the  ookmien,  ^oce  the  tatter  Aiund 
theimelvea  without  eay  enemy  in  their  vioinity,  to  cauee  than 
to  lean  on  Bngtaod  for  auooour,  or  to  divert  their  poiioy  fWim 
thoee  domeatio  meaeuree  which  were  more  immediately  coiw 
aeoted  with  their  iirtamal  proaperity. 

At  the  eloea  of  thia  mat  oonteat,  the  original  Amerkaa 
eolooiea,  or  thaw  which  have  einoe  oonotituted  the  Unitad 
Btatee,  without  iaolading  the  FlorUaa  and  Louiaiana,  art  aup. 
poaad  lo  have  ooirtaiaed  mora  than  1  ;MN>,000  aoula,  osclaaivaly 
of  Indiana.  Ceneueea  were  actually  taken  in  one  or  two  of  tka 
paovincea.  That  of  Maaaaohuaelta  gave  a  return  a  Uttie  «■- 
eeeding  34a,000»  including  6000  paojpU  oT  colour.  That  of 
Maryland,  taken  in  1756,  mt*  a  lolal  of  107,806  whilM,  • 
Bumber  eooaidarabiy  flaMaadag  the  ealimatea  after  the  peaoa. 

ImmediMely  aAar  the  paaea  of  1768,  oomawncwl  that  lada. 
kUive  uaurpation  on  the  part  of  tha  mother  country,  wUek 
twairty  yaan  later  teminalad  ia  the  iadependeaca  of  the  aolo. 


Amoi«  the  odbudm  meaMiraa  adapted  by  pariiammi 
dehr  OB  etampa,  and  another  OS  tea.  By  the  fint,  f,..^ 
oouki  Mt  legolariy  pioeaed  to  aaa,  ualeaa  flimkhad  with  tha 
raqoirad  alanpaf  yet  ao  itrong  waa  the  oppodthm,  that  ahipa 
aotaally  veoturad  on  the  aoemi  without  the  aacaaMry  papen , 
nor  ie  k  ktMnro  that  aav  ankiua  owMcqiiwiow  iiiiiliil 
flram  80  boM  a  alap.  In  llw  and,  the  gtoMHiffleaaa  hwrfng 
wiyed,  and  aoonahdM  willing  la  inoir  the  odi— of  Uif 
thair  plaaaa,  the  oMili  «/jMtica  theoMalvaa  tnaaaelid  boaZ. 
oaaa  wkkool  lafard  to  Aont  ftfOM  that  the  acta  of 
had  rMderad  BBoaMiry.  Thia  tas  waa  flaattyaboiL, 
miglil,  tlMtwara  hiliBvad  to  ha  laora 

Ika  net,  whhA  haa 

--,     .-,,,    _    -— -.    ■■  -  ■  I.  ■  ■  y    »<«•<<*     I  HUM  WW   in    ITv^  MM  ft   flPOOp 

float  MadeK  i«aM  With  whM.  waa  aetaaihraaiad  ia  ~ 
aad  piMMd  aMw  «a  gaaa  af  -    -* 


Finah  atlaaato  to  aalbroe  the  aa' 
vbtaattybeoaoMadaad 


tka  BoBMagr  BMMi<«f^war.'   A 

kan  vaia  oeatoiOid  to  aaab 


ia  tka  <MMla> 

Oaa ofiiw Int  ovart  aeto of , 

•eanad  ia  I77S,  to  ike 
afvarkadbwi 


■m 

af 


// 


J 


-•■ 


39 


MATAL    MliTOlf. 


Cinvm 


^% 


; 


to  •ofcfw  tto  Uwi,  .r-1  •  «n«ll  iichooo.r.  odW  t>»a«Pjj 
wW,  •  light  •nmment  .nd  "^'/--""Tf '  **L*T^S 

nth  of  June,  177«.  •  PfotUkoM  pukal,  thai  plW  tJ»]J^ 
New  York  ud  Rhod.  Wand,  tmumd  U»  H««i«h.  -nd  oorn. 

bring  to,  in  order  to  Im  tammmA ;  but  h«  ."^jJ^JJ 

WM  ft.!  •w«puig  him  out  of  gunrtirt.  tta  "•^T^'^Sr" 
to  Wtow.    TWd-w  eootfcuwl  for  ftY»^*«i»y  "»•. 

wSTwhSh  har  mMtor  «m  fcmlliar,  and  d«wing  Um  w««r 
Sn  rtT^hoo-r.  Cpttin  Uo«.  tad  U- l«i«roo  .  J«U 
wbM«ih«.tuok.    Ttatktafcmiif,tltoOt«l»w«I.MdwM 

not  in  •  cooditioii  to  \»  iwnowl  fcr  •wwl  »?""v.  ,,    -  y^ 
The  new.  of  thB  ch.w  WM  ci«»lrtjd  o«  th.  mtW.!  0^ 

Huuiah  at  Piotideooe.  A  .troog  Wing  wm  Mdtwl  ««»§ 
the  peputatioo.  eiid  lowwde  eteiSiig  U»  ^'^  ^^^^H^^t. 
-«»^dlntlie.t««le,MeM.bUjigthip«>pta.  ^"«7*32 
JoUe^.  the  drummer  tad  hi.  Wloiief.  In  fl«rt«i*J*t 
wtHnTimn  dtamtaed  aa  an  ladkn  MddMly  a|ipeM«d  oa  the 

M  «^  ".tout  heart."  to  aMamliieoB  »^»i*«tl'*lS !f 
alM.  dtagutaed  Hka  Unaelf.  At  the  appoinl^hoiinmoal  of 
Stoiie»Tn  the  ptaee  ooltaotad  at  the  "pt  <tad|>rtid. *hi 

■^-.rty  «rt»rked  l«  eight  of  thelM^rfl^ 

who  d»efwarde  hild  a  commtaetan  ta  ^^^SSil  aIC 
but  none  of  the  nameewMo  I«WWy  "«»»««J«»  Jj  JJ; 
On  nMring  the  Oaqrf.  about  two  m  the  "«>«J2' JSLTC 
««,haikabyaeMliMlon4eek.  ^htaniM w«. Wjjhj^ 
knrhy  a  voHey  of  ataM.  The  tommaimttmwtftwKm 
qfSmi,  a«d'ot*«i.g  the  hMirei;  ^^ji^i^S!^ 
Thie  dtaeharge  waa  ntaraed  ftw»  *■***''.??*„""  TJT: 
wa.  ritol  though  the  thigh.  Ilythiitiy,tyy«*r?f«y 
G^wrf  had  aewmbtad,  and  the  party  ftowPiy^Miy^^gy*' 
ThToonfliel  w»  •hort.tha  -iiwwr'.  CJ^JftliS 
down  and  Meufid.  Aft  on  boaidww  potato  Anlioal^i 
iheGMpiwMiitaBti**    wenrdi  mowMif  •■• 


L 


MtttMilMlWIiiiHIIMMiii 


(ITTVtl. 
I   MtWMA 

•ndoom. 

ua-of-war, 
trUared  to 
ratted  10 
rwMuUMt 
liifMOM 


ruL 


ridi  •  kur, 
n  •  alMiU, 

ivftlof  Um 


imiMr  «p- 

rowdMM 

oftalwl, 

mdoB  Um 

praoiMlyat 
■r,  awikof 
Mltd.wlK 

raaiavtow. 


r  in  •  body. 

it  Iks  tei. 
l,tlMi  htm 
■  dilvwW 

lOMPdi 

ItiM 
■nboMdid. 


IIW]  IIATAL    MIITOlf.  38 

op  MUuimlly  Md«Ml  gfwt  liMttmoHon  ia  Um 
and  alipoMiliU  rimim  wwo  uEm  Io  diMowr 

i.«ii .7      -       Owrwrmnent  at  honw  oflbvd  ■  rawwd  of 

CIMO  ■twUof  far  Uw  loMbr,  mmI  <M0  to  uv  mnom  wlu 
•OHM  dlwom  Um  otlMr  |Mniw,  wUh  Um  promiM  oft  purfea 
■koiiM  Um  bforoMr  bo  u  MMonipi;!]*.  ButUMMiuofUM 
Owo  WM  too  Mfh  fttr  tho  ofdiwiry  bmom  of  dMwSm,  no 
■***■"»  lj«*ta«om  b«o  obtoiiMd  MiildMt  o^  to  •mign 
■  ■oUtwv  indivaMJ.  MtwHKatowliiiff  •  CommiMioa  of  Inquinr. 
uwbr  t&o  Ofwt  8«l  of  BagiMd,  mt  with  UmI  oUwt/Aw 
MMMry  to  JuiM,  durioff  Um  ymt  ms. 

41lkou|b  Ikii  •mt  bd  toaoiwwdioto  raMiti,  it  dooMMi 
k«l  iti  idUnoo  ia  widMinC  Um  biOMh  batuwa  tho  oMMriM 

pyiy^Mdltiom»tliyofnWMfk,UMti«it1>MtlMdaS13 

Uood  thM  flowid  ia  Um  mm^  tbt  Ammtimm  Imhptmtmmi 
UMwInbtiuMaaliMMafiirittiwtaNiifalM  ' 

M  Um  wiiimiiBl.  aad  banw  kMva  1^  m 


Tfco  j«ar  ml  ii  iiBiabii  )a  AJ^twieM  ktaton.  Ihr  Uto    X 
lirtMBiwaaibyUMmitailititoUMdKyoatoa,    ftvMr-       ' 


ia 
byUM 


taati  orUM  two 


^  *5f  "A"t'"  ■■'  «■  tiM  part  of  Um  BiiUah  arii^,  ia 
piwriHiB|t>rj  Iwt  TadlaCoaiaaar  to  oapott  Utoir  fM  tt4  of 
•kM|^  i  «mmmM.  to  Mb  dU  artiolt  at  a  iMiar  Nio  ta 
AMMka,  nNm  to  tlH  duty,  thM  h  oa«y  iMTo  kwa  mM  pM. 
jwM^  to tiM <■! ■liii^B  «f  Um  laa.  FkiMyfa* ikat  thio ^ 
wwiiiMBi  iwaOd  fcfow  tiMTim  of  all  Um  paiiM  ia  ■owpa, 
ibr  taa  wavnOMii  ct  iIm  ooawaav 
<I«M  of  Um  oyrtn  oflloiSI^ 

ll  «M|0«  ««M  ■ 

rWkiii|iUa,Ch« 
MMr  plaoH 
iwlnate^ 

in  dkiiip  <Mikia»  wkM«  it  flaally  mUad. 

Tlnw  faMli  loadid  witk  Um  oAMlfa  aiUete  had 
toaMioa.a«<UMiBhaMiM|i  ■iiHBwiiJhipwwM 
■Mton  Io  oiMwt  to  mma  to  Loadoa,  wiUMoi 
hsllte  MHtapNM  nlhwd  to  nloMa  1^ 

wtfiBi  vhii  IM  mNImiMm  tafod  Um 
TIh  flouiaoi  aiai  Bii*i*'«<it  Am  4— !« 

Ami.    ntiMMiaotHa 

'■* *  *-  -^^-"^  '^  -r .  imJTf  M  inmNailw  Itm 

•  6*  oTte  •vwlH.  a  MMT  «oniMd  aa  ladiaM.  adi 


tht 


•  r*^ 


NAVAL    MliTOET 


lim-u 


whLh  » took  poMTMion  wUluHil  rt»uitan.«.     I h«  ha«ch«  were 

■na  thfir  lontenu  were  thrown  mU)  thp  walnr,  Itw  wnoie 
prooS  «g^  w««  co«duc.«d  in  .ha  mo-  o«W.r»y  m.nn.r.  .jjd 
SSTuilU.  or  O.I  noi-'.  ih«  J.bourrn.  .«W«m  .poking.  Ho 
much  my.l«ry  •tund.J  ihi«  .»r..r.  that  it  i.  not  ,^y,  j>v«  • 
Sk  «S  cby.  to  Mcartain  -II  ih.,  parliouUn. ;  and  .lth.«Kl' 
2e  M^of  the  actor,  have  b««n  mrnl«»n«l  o,*nly  of  l-f. 
Tt  TuZ  peS  appr«hen«oo.  .r«  -id  «o  have  b«m  ..it«r. 

he  mad«  the  wibitJcU  of  it  pro««ut»on  for  damagea,  by  ^WCM 
liir£>m^y  Thr«,  hundred  «mI  forty-two  cheaU  of  tat 
we«  iirrS^,  which  wa.  probably  th«  cargo  of  a  .«.gl-  ah.p. 

flUcTmewMiiS  that  wa»  equally  ^.l^hhanded,  -^ JV^ 
Sample  of  the  town  all  direct  it'^IP"";* /"  !°r™7. 
Thi.  .udden  check,  at  twenty  "^y?  °l'^,*?  j^  *'^1^ 
place  that,  the  prevJoua  year,  hod  •««  *»J^'^.'*nkt^ 
hmentriii.  to  and  from  foreign  porta,  produowl  much  dtalwa» 
^hJ  lLwJ'itirf!«rgn«torU'gnation  throughout  the  etjon- 
Sv     h  hil  tae»  U«  miafortune  of  England,  n^cf  to  trnder- 

for.  accuatomad  to  dependeno^Jhat  J^J^ttoanSlof 
oooqueat.  aho  had  not  yet  learned  to  appwcinte  the  'P^*  «' 
SSTwho  were  rapidly  ahooting  up  intoTwhtlcal  'n-nlHwd  b^^ 
STown  effort.,  and  who  had  only  placed  them^lv«.  la  the 
SSiurtSJ  <I^«PW.  becau*  they  hod  fou.«l  the  hberly  of 
England  herself,  insufficient  for  their  opinwo.  •"tf  ;»°V , . 
^fhe  people  now  began  »«riou.ly  to  prepare  ^l^^T^^ 
fcrie7.Krf»«y  P"^  by  the  libert^bat  ^^^  ^^ 
to  onaniae  mUUafy  corpe,  with  a  view  ^  iwwtwu  wn^ 

•      S^^St;^.  that* -.rredJTi^M  many  «^^ 


^atm»iam 


k1  iiftwnnly 
ig  ■wtl\ly  >n 
m  mob,  wm! 
iM.  umI  of 
nHch«i  wen- 

Tha  whoir 
manner,  and 
«Mking.  Hu 
My,  "v«o  •» 
imI,  «lth<MiKli 
rnly  of  Utw, 
R  bwnn  flOUir- 
«y  mighl  ye« 

ohtMtaor  tM 
n  auigla  ahip. 

wt  Bill,  *  J^ 
DM  it  dentod 
n  oNnnMron. 
fw  tnula  of  « 
MnnoMtMid 
much  dUtnM 

iKHit  UM)  OOQIh 

nror  to  under- 
can  colooiMt 
I  humbled  by 
l«  the  ipirit  of 
J  infinhood  by 
nuMlve*  in  the 
the  liberty  of 
nd  wantt. 
ir  Ml  appMl  tu 
atUliaft  them, 
ror  that  which 
Oap  the  diflht^ 
•tknaod  oon- 
'M  poeeibUin 


mil 


MATAL     HIITOMf. 


NM  etaiM 
l«diiMllnr> 
ind.  Law  had 


b«wn  p«MtHl  in  Knglami  prDhihiiing  th«i  niportaiion  of  arma 
and  millUry  auptiiMia  to  Anwrlti*  )  and  the  cannon  and  (Miwdtr 
of  the  Crown  wnre  amtMl  at  »arioua  pdntu,  dlhnr  by  tho  I<h«I 

IivernnwinU,  or  by  |irival«  individuala.  Twrnly-am  giina,  of 
flbrent  <alibrMi,  w«r«  titund  on  Port  Ulami  and  carrimj  to 
Hrt>vi(l«inc«»,  and  th'*  p»H^I«  of  Khottn  (aland  aw  aaid  to  hare 
got  puaaeaaion,  in  the  whob,  of  ijuilfl  forty  guna,  by  (hear  bold 
meaaurea.  At  Portamoulh,  New  Mainiiahtre,  a  body  of  400 
men  pmrawded  to  the  ra^ll",  «l  the  harbour'*  nMnith,  kii|»l  ihe 
garriaoii  in  check,  ami  br-«king  <»pi'n  the  iiu4(aaino,  they  car- 
ried oir  on«'  hunilrtni  barn  la  of  powder. 

Whiln  m(«na  like  th<)ae  wem  uaed  io  obtain  Ihe  neoeaanry 
military  eqmpmenu,  pmviaioaa.  ao  well  aa  arma,  ware  oollaal. 
•d  in  diflerent  parte  of  thn  oountry,  in  raatlineaa  for  a  cam- 
paign. Among  other  dii|>6t«  of  thia  naluir,  oihi  had  tieen  made 
•t  ConconI,  a  ainall  town  at  the  diataiicn  of  fijuhtiN.-ii  niilea 
from  Itoaton,  and  Onnoral  Oaga,  wh<»  comniandwd  the  Uritiah 
foroea  in  America,  deemed  it  caaontial  that  it  ahould  be  dealroy' 
«d.  A  alrong  detachmttnt  waa  aent  on  thia  aervice,  and  it  fell 
in  with  ■  amall  body  of  American  minuttsmen  at  Lesingtoo. 
Theae  militia  wem  diaporai<d  by  a  volU-y,  in  whif  h  a  few  men 
wero  killod.  Thia  aflkir  baa  aiwaya  beon  txinaidon.'d  Ihe  com- 
mencwmenl  of  the  War  of  the  Kovolutioo  ;  and  justly,  aa  the 
hoatilitioa  which  were  then  commenced  did  not  ceaao,  until  the 
Independence  of  Ihe  Coloniea  waa  acknowledged  by  Tieaty. 
The  Briliah  proceeded  to  Concord,  where  they  efthcted  thmr 
object,  though  not  without  reaialance.  The  people  now  began 
to  collect  in  force,  and  aa  ao<m  aa  the  Britiah  reaumed  Ihtoir 
march,  on  the  return  to  Boston,  they  were  aaaailed  by  the 
former  (Wnn  behind  the  walla  and  fences.  80  vignroualy  Wore 
Ihe  troops  pressed  on  this  occasion,  that  it  is  thought  they  mutt 
have  aurrenderrd,  had  they  not  been  met  by  a  strong  rein* 
(brcemeni,  commanded  by  Ixird  Percy,  which  enabled  ib^ 
to  halt  and  rucoTer  their  breath.  Aa  aoon  as  the  march  Was 
raaumed,  however,  the  provinciala  renewed  Ihe  attack,  Ihd  the 
Britiah  did  not  auoceed  in  gaining  a  place  of  aeenrtoy,  until 
they  reached  Charieatown  neck.  In  this  aflkir  the  loaa  of  the 
Anwricans  has  been  asoejrtained  to  have  amounted  to  80  killed, 
84  wounded,  and  4  misting;  that  cf  the  British  to  78  killed, 
174  wounded,  and  M  Drispoara. 

The  intelliMoe  of  this  important  eveirt  drealaled  Hhe  ft 
raging  Are  throughout  the  country,  and  it  was  everrwhera 
raoeivtd  aa  a  oalt  to  iNittie.    Rneerve  wm  thrown  aaide  >  tka 


'^mmr 


MATAL    miTO»t. 


[im 


CHAPTBRIV. 


iTtW^wTSe  !«rt  of  the  country  m  wh^  AeflwM 
JSarOiMSLj  wBSliad  been  »»* 

SSdiSS^"  to  the  tempontrye^^ 
SlTSonMSs  etruggle  oommenoed  m  ewnert, \immn,^ 


**aamm^tmmm 


mmmmtmitmM 


nibrbody 

tha  town. 
irwUnita, 
Murboor  of 
Thk  itep 
tteBiatle 
aooflieta  of 
en  Urth  to 
inttd  Com* 

HdOAdoMt 
0. 


ITAITAL    HIITOBT. 


87 


Iwir  poHi^ 
uy  iMUUrcM 

MnUoM  in* 
MnkiodM, 
intoflaboar* 
sopleof  Ame* 


ttaMHran 
ofdar  toBod 

J|e«care  enrwi 
Btend.  Con- 
n^via  deftooe 
•  4iftrenteal- 
ilMDing  •fcv 
an  eiptdmoiu 
t,lio««f«l«4« 


MM*  of  the  paofle,  tlwir  aptiUMie  for  mi  nrvifle,  aad  Ihs  Ml. 
vMtagM  oflMtli «  puMks  ud  •  private  nateiv,  that  ««m  lo 

kM|iiigmaloaa«lMBMit  that  promiMd  to  mnnj  fciteiki 
NNlta.  ntMiubiAthi»cmakm<^Ooatmm.wUehhoifwZ 
te«^poiadat  AfM  to  aet^aa  if  fomal  niiriU,  {artaa/of  • 
radiMi  of  AtovaasM,  waa  ita  oli^Mt,  pimrwMad  a  rMMog  to. 
wwdb  tlw  prIvMa  eniiaMni, '*- - 


•ra,  thai  wooM  prolMUj  hM«  givwi  tba 
•  heaviar  aa4  iwMv  anddM  btoir,  thn 


Uhadafwyatwedvad.    Bat  •  dMhnoi  pdiey  w_  . 
and  tha  ovdoiB  to  cMiptarB,  Aim  ianad,  wmi  ooofaad  to 
bringiag  rtofw  and  MippUaa  to  tha  BrilUl  Ansaa  hi 
Itwaaaahto--'^-*'*-^—     — 


I M  tht  lOlh  of  Nov.  1776,  hifon 
tbo  eoloqr  wMeh  wao  th«  aa«  of  war,  asd  wMdk  otov  hoMhi 
to  hava  taken  tha  laad  ia  tha  MwiS,  adaUUMl  aowJa  of  a«. 
ninlty,  aad  aaaetod  kwa  for  tha  wrniinia— n  of  aaalteal 
aotorprlMa.  Waahiagtaa  Mloaad  tVa  mairirhv  graaihw 
nnaaiAiBiuBa  to  vaaMla  to  onriaa  hi  tha  vieUty  of  BMaaTiviZ 
thaa^Mtafaaadratotod.  Bal.daa«MZ^7Sw 
S?*  yT!-*^*'*'  day,  wa  laadar  it  aaeaaiaiy  to  aiainito 
AaaaljartiatodBaalaaaBhaa;  via.  e«a  that  wfca  aafayia 
tha  — iliiiM  of  private,  mi  IhMuwtli  of TiMtiL.!  _J 


.sm* 


II  aMtber  that  ahan  ipaafc  of  tha  araoMdhM  af  Iha 
diftwat  ooloafaa;  airf  a  thW,  whidi  mow  pwiftlf  Sayiaw 
te Umbm of  tUa iioA, that ahal lafa  to  Sapaiq^^ 

' .kbahaifofthawlhaaalba  UmSjiglSm 

aaa  hawrity,  aa  hal  Aiv 


,««ahaUba 


8ataidiy,dMtlhaflinr,lTra     'n  nrmiiii  iihiiiiaiTSr ti 
•erviea  of  tha  arowi^  odhd  tka  Ifnpnlla,  «aa  iftac  hi  psML 

' v-«^^  -Tir  n^-i  til  I  iTiaaiiii     nahMHwaT^* 

■a«aa«raa^|ahMdtohaalHi,apiM  to  caateaa  te  MhMa^ 


lapWtedof  tha- 
itvaakpad  that  tha  „ 
«iaehichBRli,hBtthB 

4 


38 


NAVAL    HISTOmt. 


[177& 


nnoipitatioD  of  »me  engaged.  Captom  Mooro,  .T'l*?.^"' 
KSCdthe  Margaretta,  saw  the  •««»"♦•.  »»\*»'J»'"^ 
SJTeiaped  through  the  windowa  of  t\a  church  to  the  abow, 
wffre^rwere  protected  by  the  gun.  of  their  ve|»el.  The 
dTrS^  TZ  now  Lken,  .pring.  were  pt  on  the  Margaietta'a 
^u!L  .nd  a  few  harmleaa  ahot  were  fired  over  the  town,  by 
^^^InnttSdaL  Tfter  a  little  delay,  however^the  «.hooner 

HeSriw  waa  followed,  summoiied  to  •urrender,  «»d  ^wd  on 
f  in  a  Wah  bank,  which  her  own  ahot  could  no^  reach.  The 
M^iSSSJin  weighed,  and  runmng  into  the  bay,  at  the 
oonfluenoe  of  the  two  ri wra.  anchored.  .v.  1 1  ,k  „f 

The  following  morning,  which  r"  ^onday,  the  11th  of 
MavV  four  young  men  took  posaeaaion  of  one  of  the  lumber 
So2S.r^d  brinling  her  nh^  of  a  wharf,  they  g|jve  three 
dZl  Ma  aSal  for  volunteer..  On  explammg  that  their 
SSSoS  ieX make  an  att«A  on  the  ^'P^^  J  PJ^J 
rfabout  thirty-five  athletic  men  waa  aoon  oolleoted.  Amung 
jLSSJrSh  firearm.,  pitchfork.,  and  a««.  «id  thiowmg 
?SS^  of  provWo^Tinto  Uk,  doop,  ^^'P^^^^ 
STgot  under  wiy.  with  a  Ught  bn««  .tnorJbw«^^  J^ben 
STlKwwtto  obaerved  the  approach  of  the  aloop  aha  w«ghed 
jTd  «^^  »a  to  .Yoid  a  oonO^  that  wMjy  way 

ttiable,  her  commander  not  yet  being  W"^**!?^^ 
thathil  oecurwd  nearBorton,  In  J!»«»«»  ^  ^^«^^ 
Sd  away  her  main^boom.  but  oontmumg  to  f'^'^  ^ 
into  Hol^»a  Bay,  and  took  .  q»r  out  «£.*  ^^J^ 
lyLthera.  While  these  lepurawew  making,  tto(rto»toT8 
SuAht  aoain.  and  the  Margaretta  rtoodout  to -^^if  »W 

on  the  quarter,  the  .loop  proved  to  be  "»,  *~.  "T5^  J?? 
•OikJwa.  the  Margaretta  to  avmd  •^ooUiAm,  XSS!SX 
Moore  now  cut  away  hi.  boat.;  fc^.fi"*^,*"  ^^^S 
and  that  hi.  a«aiUuit.  were  fart  '^''^7^^.^!^ 
a  &«.  the  Mhooner  having  an  annament  of  »«  «»«  JF*^ 
LSlfourteen  .wivela.  A  m«J|«.  WW  «  byriflte  Ooo^ 
which  immediately  returned  the  &•  '^•.T^iP^-JS 
diMsharge  killed  the  man  at  the  ^^^/^^^t'^^^'^ 
hM^Ster-deck.  The  achooner  broached  to,  whan  the  atoop 
«;e'?2^i«5fearge.  Almort  at  the  ««•  intent  the  twj» 
Siu^foul  of  Sch  other.    A  abort  co«ffi^  now  took 

place  with  Buaketry.  Capt^  Moore  ^^"^niSr  STdS 
with  coaaiderahle  effect,  m  penwn.    Th«  officer  waa  am 


Mill  I II MiitiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiii 


Miti.^S^UnSIKKlttt&HfK^ 


[177& 

rbo  oom* 
a  hit  offi* 
ihe  shore, 
lel.  The 
irgaretta't 
town,  by 
igchooner 
;  a  league, 
id  fired  on 
ich.  The 
wy,  «t  the 

e  11th  of 
he  lumber 
gave  three 
{ that  their 
ta,apwty 
.  Arming 
1  throwing 
>iri(edfipee- 
«t.  When 
be  weighed 

wayuode* 
lUtlieftoUi 
hooneroar- 
oo,  she  ran 
teltbatwaa 
BakwphOTA 
,  in  the  hope 
,th  the  wind 

•Mier.  So 
IhatOaptain 
I  iiidfcc>wil> 
g,heopeBed 

liiht  pue, 
rdttieMoop, 
pieoe.  This 
.aadoiiMued 
Miithealo(q> 
■tantthetwo 
fict  now  took 
nd-grenadesi 
er  waa  ■hn* 


177i.] 


NAVAL    HISTORT. 


30 


down,  however,  when  the  people  of  the  sloop  boarded  and  took 
pouession  of  their  prize. 

The  lou  of  life  in  this  affair  was  not  very  great,  though 
twenty  men,  on  both  sides,  are  said  to  have  been  killed  and 
wounded.  The  force  of  the  Margaretta,  even  in  men,  was 
much  the  most  considerable,  though  the  pe<tplc  of  no  regular 
cruiser  can  ever  equal  in  spirit  and  energy  a  body  of  volun- 
teers assembled  on  an  occasion  like  this.  There  was  origi- 
nally no  commander  in  the  sloop,  but  previously  to  engaging 
the  schooner,  Jeremiah  O'Brien  was  selected  for  that  station. 
This  affair  was  the  Lexington  of  the  seas,  for,  like  that  cele- 
brated land  conflict,  it  waa  a  rising  of  the  people,  against  a 
regular  force,  was  characterised  bv  a  long  chase,  a  bloody 
struggle,  and  a  triumph.  It  was  also  the  first  blow  struck  on 
the  water,  after  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution  had  ac- 
tually commenced. 

The  armament  of  the  Margaretta  waa  transfbrred  to  a  sloop, 
and  Mr.  O'Brien  made  an  attack  on  two  small  Englioh  cruisers 
that  were  said  to  have  been  sent  out  firom  Halifax,  expressly  to 
capture  him.  By  separating  these  vessels,  he  took  them  both, 
with  little  resistance,  and  the  prisoners  were  all  carried  to 
Watertown,  where  the  provincial  legislature  of  Massachusetta 
was  then  assembled.  The  gallantry  and  good  conduct  of  Mr. 
O'Brien  were  so  generaUy  admired,  that  he  was  inunediately 
appdnted  a  captam  in  the  marine  of  the  colony,  and  sent  on 
the  coast  with  his  two  last  prises,  with  orders  to  intercept  ves- 
sels bringing  supplies  to  the  royal  forces. 

Many  advaitnres  or  enterprises,  more  or  less  resembling 
these  of  Captun  O'Brien,  tobk  place  on  different  parts  of  the 
coast,  thouf^  none  of  so  brilliant  and  sucoessflil  a  dianeter. 
By  way  of  relaUatioo,  and  with  a  view  to  intimidate,  the  Bog. 
liah  ooounander-hi-chief.  Admiral  Graves,  sent  a  ibroe  under 
the  orders  of  Gairtain  Mowat,  to  destroy  the  town  of  Fahiwuth, 
and  fiwr  hundm  buildings  were  burned.  An  attempt  to 
land,  however,  waa  rapulwd,  when  the  ships  retired.  This 
and  similar  stqw  produced  the  law  of  Massachusetts,  sdreadj 
mentKMied  as  having  been  passed  in  Nov.  1T75,  granting  com- 
missions and  directing  the  seisure  of  British  Teasels  under  oer^ 
tain  drcunatanoss,  and  ^rhicb  consequentlyput  an  end  to  the 
espeditkas  we  have  classed  among  the  unautiiwised. 

The  colony  ofMasaarfausetts  had  recourse  to  energrtie  men- 
suns  Ibr  annoying  the  enemy  on  the  coast,  and  dor  procuring 
military  supplies.    Many  small  vjassels  were  fitted  out  by  that 


f 


wm'i''^^'^' 


40 


HATAL    HliTOAf. 


11771. 


V 


M  wall  M  by  other  ooloniM,  wid  aluiMi  w«ra  nat  in  diOnnt 
direodoiu  with  »  view  to  purobaw  iton*. 

The  WMit  of  powder,  in  partieuhtf ,  wm  k  eeveidy  Mt,  that 
•11  practicable  meens  were  adopted  to  obtain  it.  AnmigotlMn, 
General  Waahington  borrowed  two  achoooe/e  of  Maaaaohuaetu 
and  aent  them  into  the  Oulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  under  the  ordan 
of  Captain  Broughton,  to  intercept  two  brigi,  that  were  known 
to  be  bound  to  Quebec  with  military  auppUea.  The  brifi 
wwB  not  aeen,  but  ten  other  Eng liah  veawla  were  captured  by 
Captain  Broughton,  all  of  which  were  releaaed  aa  not  coming 
within  the  hoatilitiea  meditated  by  Congreea. 

That  body,  howerer,  waa  by  no  meana  blind  to  the  impor< 
tance  of  naval  meana  of  defbno^  without  which  no  war  can 
•ver  be  conducted  with  credit  and  aucccM  by  a  country  aitu. 
•tad  like  America ;  and  we  have  now  properly  arrived  at  the 
period  when  it  ia  neoeawry  to  advert  to  the  acta  and  legialatioa 
of  the  General  Govenroent  on  thia  interestioa  aubject. 

Soon  after  he  aaaumed  the  command  of  the  troopa  be&m 
Boatoo,  General  Waahington,  who  ao  dasply  felt  the  want  of 
nunitiouaof  war,  iaaued  aeveml  commiaaiona  to  difibrent  email 
veaaela,  giving  their  commandera  inatmctioaa  to  oniiae  in  or 
new  Maaaaehuaetto  Bay,  in  order  to  iadnoept  the  Briliah  itoi* 
shipa. 

the  fiwt  voaael  that  got  to  aea  undtf  thia  «rrangamwf ,  we 
the  achooner  Lae,  Captain  John  Manly,  whksh  aailed  floaa. 
Mublehead  neur  the  okiee  of  November.  On  the  Sgth,  Cap;, 
tain  Manly  fell  in  with  and  captured  the  Bngliah  brig  Naaey. 
hAviiw  CO  board  ordnance  atoiea,  aeveial  btaaa  gMna,  •  oooal- 
deiiMe  atodc  of  fise-arma,  and  variooa  mittatry  mpj^iea. 
Among  other  thinge  of  thia  nature,  waa  •  luge  nttrtar,  which 
waa  jiMtly  deemed  an  important  addition  to  the  waani  of  a  b». 
aii^png  army ;  for,  up  to  thia  tinw,  the  Anwiieana  befera  Boa> 
ton  were  puticnlariy  in  wairt  of  aatillary  of  every  aort.  Ob 
Uie  8th  of  December,  Captain  Manly  oaptaMd  three  mora 
atora^hipa,  and  auooeeded  m  getting  all  hie  priMa  a^riy  into 

Although  it  may  not  be  atriotly  troe  to  tenn  the  Lea,  and  the 
other  anaU  croiaera  aimilarly  employed,  the  fM  vewicia  that 
ever  belonged  to  the  General  Govemmaat  of  tWa  country,  they 
may  be  deemed  the  firet  that  ever  actually  aaiad  wkh  autho> 
rity  to  cruiae  ia  behiOf  of  the  entire  repnbiio.  But,  while  wa 
yield  thia  precedency  to  Cutain  Manly  and  hie  aaaoeiatea,  who 
acted  under  the  ordera  of  WaahioglM,  OoQgreaa  itaelf  had  OM 


iM^MriMMI 


ttim 

adifibnnt 

mgoUian, 
MfihuaetUi 
tbeorden 
ere  known 
Tbe  brigi 
tpturedby 
lotooiniBg 

Uwimpor- 
o  wur  oan 
untry  «!«• 
iredat  Um 

eot 

Mptbe&MS 
ba  want  of 
Iwmtwnall 
raise  in  or 
Iritislii 


I7T«.J 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


41 


idled  flom 
89th,  CbpN. 
rigNaaoy, 

f  Mpfriiee. 
rtar,  wbieh 
UMofab»> 
beforaBoe* 
reort.  Ob 
three  enore 
e^Uy  into 

ieetandtbe 

veoRcletliM 
UDtry.tbey 
nth  euthox 
It,  while  we 
wiatesiwho 
Nlfhednot 


been  eltooelher  idle,  and  it  ia  probable  that  Che  Conunander-in- 
Chief  took  the  itep  juat  menttooed  in  aocordanoe  with  the  ex> 
preeeeJ  viewa  of  that  body. 

The  fint  Iqgiahuion  of  Congreai  on  the  mibjeot  of  a  navy, 
preceded  the  bw  d'MaaaachMMtt^  in  jmintof  tune,  thoudb  the 
aet  was  worded  with  great  rewrve.  On  the  18th  of  October, 
1775,  a  law  passed  ordering  one  ressel  of  10  guns,  and  another 
of  14  guns  to  be  equipped  as  national  property,  and  to  Le  aent 
to  the  eastward  on  a  cruise  of  three  months,  to  intf  reept  sup* 
plies  for  the  royal  troope.  On  the  20th  of  the  same  month  a 
resolution  pasMd  denying  to  priTate  shipc  of  war  and  mer- 
chant veasds  Um  ri^t  to  wear  pennanu  in  the  pieeenoe  of 
**  oontiaental  shipa,  or  vessels  of  war,"  without  the  permkeioit 
of  the  commanding  officers  of  the  latter.  The  neit  day  ano- 
ther law  passed,  authorising  the  fitting  out  of  two  mora  onikMn, 
one  to  carry  90,  and  the  ether  M  gune. 

A  change  in  thie  cautious  poUoy  was  produced  by  the  depra- 
dations  oommitted  by  the  veania  under  the  command  trf"  oin. 
tainllowat.  When  the  intelligewx  of  that  ruthlese  proceeding 
reached  Philadelphia,  it  produced  a  general  priie  law,  with  an- 
thnnty  to  cairtun  aU  British  Tesaele  that  were  in  any  manaer 
oonneotod  with  the  pending  struggle.  As  the  oountnr  stiU  no. 
knowMged  its  connexion  with  the  crown,  periiapa  th»  neerve 
b  conducting  the  wwr,  «as,  in  a  measure,  doe  to  eonnd  poUoy. 
This  law  was  Mlowwl  by  another,  paaeed  December  ISiIi, 
ordering  thirteen  sail  of  enusers,  to  be  fionstnicted.  Of  tha 
laUer  Teasels,  thn»  wera  to  be  of  94  gUM,  flra  of  98,  ind 
fife  of  99. 

Theaa  veamls  apoewr  to  have  been  judiciously  appointed  in 
order  to  aflhet  the  olfeet  b  view.  The  reeouiosa  dT  America 
did  not  admit  of  the  ooBstnieliQB  of  ehipa  of  a  aiae  fit  to  bon. 
(end  with  the  iMii  of  England;  and  even  had  the  eolooiee  boon 
m  a  oonditian  to  maka  such  an  eodubitkm  of  their  ^amt,  the 
time  neoeasanr  to  orgaaise  a  propnr  marine,  the  want  of  navy 
yards,  and  the  hnposriWIity  of  praowii«,  hi  sewon,  naval 
storas  of  the  reovwed  quality,  prodd  have  prevented  tfasA  flom 
•tlHBpting  k.  llie  aUpa  ordered  warn  luge  enoiurii  to  reebt 
the  snrll  oraissia  of  the  crown,  and  wave  wdl  adapted  to4»> 
atiw  eenvagra  and  to  oapturo  transports  and  store-abips. 

Bid  as  wai  tfie  eooditiaa  of  the  oolonea,  aa  reapeeto  na««l 
atorea  and  the  munitioM  of  war,  the  eoui^  n^ht  be  said  to 
be  even  wone  off  tat  penooe  suited  to  ftrm  a  itevy  list. 
Thm  waa  no  laok  of  coopeteat  navigaton»  or  of  bimve  asA. 


ifAVAL    «11«T0BT. 


[mi. 


men,  but  the  hi«h  moral  qunlitieg  which  ore  mdupeneeble  to 
the  eccomplUh.  !  officer,  wer«  hardly  to  be  expected  among 
tho«s  who  hod  n'«ivcd  all  their  traming  in  tho  rude  and  im- 
perfect  ichooU  of  the  merchant  aenrice.    Sull,  as  a  whole,  the 
{nerdhant  aeamen  of  America  wwe  of  a  claiw  aupenor  to  thoae 
of  most  other  nations;  tho  very  ab^nco  of  a  regular  marine, 
which  induced  young  men  of  cnterprue  to  incur  the  dangers  of 
the  aeas  in  this  mode  in  preference  to  remaining  on  shore,  and 
the  moral  auperiority  of  the  level  of  the  population,  producing 
such  a  iwult.    The  Committee  of  Congieaa,  to  which  the 
duties  of  a  Navy  Department  were  asMoned,  waa  compelled, 
in  ooDsequenoe  of  these  difliculties,  to  setoct  the  new  corps  of 
oAoerw.  principally,  from  such  conspicuous  perwins  anwng  wo 
masters  and  mates  of  merchant  ships  as  the  country  afforde.1 } 
•  few  of  them  who  had  been  trained  in  the  English  manne, 
but  who  had  left  it  previously  to  the  stru^glfa,  excepted,     fbe 
lesult  was  such  as  might  have  been  nnUcipated.    While  many 
sallant  and  suitable  men  were  chosen,  some  of  the  corps  had 
little  to  recommend  them  besides  their  pracUcal  knowledge  of 
seamanship.    These  were  valuable  qualities,  cettain  y ;  but  the 
habito  of  subordinatioo,  the  high  feelings  of  personal  pnde  and 
self-respect  that  create  an  «jpr»«  de  eorpa,  and  tho  mofw  o«^ 
run  and  lofty  sentiments  that  come  u»  time,  to  teach  the 
trained  officer  to  believe  any  misfortune  preferable  to  profcs- 
sional  disgrace,  were  not  always  to  be  expected  under  such 

drcumstanoes.  .....      „     _k^  a:a 

It  has  become  impossible  to  establish,  in  all  caiie^  who.Ad 

and  who  did  not  actually  serve  in  the  manne  of  the  United 

Stales,  officere  so  frequently  passing  firom  the  pnvatoers  mto 

the  pubUc  vesseU,  and  from  the  public  vesseU  to  the  pwa^, 

as  to  leave  this  important  branch  of  our  subject  »nw>»wl  in 

much  obscurity.    Before  we  enter  more  luUy  into  the  detailK 

oa  which  reliance  can  be  plcoed,  it  may  be  well,  also,  to  co- 

plain  that  the  officere  in  the  navy  of  the  Confederation  derived 

Uieir  authority  ftom  diflferent  sources,  a  cucumstwioe  that  adds 

to  the  difficulties  just  mentioned.    In  a  good  mmy  instances, 

Conrress  made  the  appointmento  by  *««  w»olirtioiis  ofrts 

own,  as  wUl  appear  in  the  case  of  the  officere  first  named. 

Subsequently,  tWMarine  Committee  V^"'^,*^  jT'^ 

andTin  the  end,  not  only  did  the  diplomatic  agents  of  the  Go- 

ver^ment  abroad  exereise  this  high  trust,  but  even  the  com- 

manden  of  squadrons  and  of  ships  were  put  in^poswssion  oi 

blank  oomniissions  to  be  filled  at  their  partioular  ducietioa. 


■nmm 


Miiiiiii 


..h.A-,^.. 


maable  to 
9d  among 
le  and  im- 
wbole,  the 
irto  thoM 
ir  marine, 
langera  of 
■here,  and 
producing 
which  the 
compelled, 
IT  oorpc  of 
among  tiw 
f  aflbideii  $ 
eh  marine, 
>tod.    The 
f^hile  many 
corps  had 
Qwlodge  of 
ily;  but  the 
il  pride  and 
moral  cou> 
I  teach  the 
e  topro(ea> 
imder  aueh 

ea,  who  did 
the  United 
vateera  into 
)  privateera, 
invoWed  in 
»  the  details 
alao,  to  ex> 
ition  derived 
oe  that  adds 
y  inatancea, 
lUoiH  of  its 
firat  named, 
thia  newer; 
lof  UteOo* 
n  the  oom- 
Miesaion  of 
r  diacratioa. 


mi] 


NATAL    HItTOftT. 


43 


It  will  easily  be  understood  how  much  thia  looaenesa  in  mana* 
ging  an  interoat  of  ao  much  moment,  incronaM  tho  dirticuUy  of 
obcaining  the  truth. 

Tlmt  the  brave  men  who  nctod  under  the  authority  of 
Washington,  at  the  commencement  of  the  contest,  were  not  m 
the  navv,  is  evident  from  the  circumstance  that  several  of  them 
obtained  rank  in  the  senrioe,  as  the  reward  of  their  conduct 
while  cruising  in  the  sort  of  scmi-offioial  vessels  that  have  been 
already  mentioned.  It  haa  been  said,  that  the  Arst  regular 
legislation  of  Congress,  in  reference  to  a  marine,  with  a  view 
to  reaist  the  amreaaiona  of  the  British  Parliament,  datea  from 
«  reaolution  of  that  body  passed  the  18th  of  Ootober,  1775. 
This  resolution  directed  a  committee  of  three,  Meaara.  Deane, 
Langdon  and  Gadsden,  to  fit  out  two  swift*aidling  vasaala,  tks 
one  of  ten,  and  the  other  of  fourteen  guns,  to  cruise  to  the  east- 
ward, to  intercept  the  supplies  and  transports  intended  for  tte 
British  army  at  Boston.  Under  this  law  it  ia  believed  that  a 
brig  called  the  Lexington,  and  a  sloop  named  th«  Providence, 
were  equipped ;  though  it  does  not  appear  that  either  went  on 
the  particular  duty  named  in  the  readfution.  On  the  80th  of 
the  same  month,  the  committee  was  increased  to  aeven  {  and  m 
ahip  of  3d  guns,  and  •another  of  30,  were  ordered  to  be  provi* 
deo.  Under  this  law,  the  Alfred  and  Cdumbua  were  nur> 
chased,  thoi  h  neither  waa  of  the  force  implied  by  the  higMot 
rate  named.  The  firat  of  these  ahipa  ia  aaid  to  hav*  hod  a 
main-deck  battery  of  20  ninea,  while,  her  armamaBt  on  tht 
quarter-deck  and  forecastle,  varied  in  tl^e  courae  of  her  ser» 
vice,  from  ten  guns  to  two.  At  the  end  of  her  career,  aba 
carried  no  guns  above.  Leaa  ia  known  of  the  Columbus,  hot 
she  is  believed  to  have  had  a  ^n-deck  battery  of  18  Dines. 
Both  ware  clumsy  and  crank  ahipa,  and  neitht  ir  [  vjved  to  be 
a  very  good  aaihr. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  of  the  aame  year,  Congreaa  di> 
rected  the  thirteen  ahipa  of  war  to  be  built,  and  the  next  day 
the  Marine  C!ommittee  was  ao  fiir  increased  as  to  oontaia  one 
member  firom  each  ooloay ;  all  the  proceedings  that  hCve  yet 
been  nwQtiooed,  having  beisn  diredsd  rather  to  a  redraas  of- 
grievances,  duin  to  inoependeooe. 

On  the  93d  of  December,  177Q,  Cooaiess  passed  •  nsolu« 
tion  declaring  Esek  i&pkins  Commander-in-CMsf,  and  ap< 
pointing  offioers  fiw  ol!  the  vessels  then  in  aerviee. 

By  A»  law  it  wilt  be  aeen  that  Mr.  Hopkina  waa  not  mads 
«  cf^rtoin,  but  the  "  Commonder-ia-Cbief,*'  a  rank  that  wM 


A 


N4TAL    RIBTOftT. 


nan. 


UMmmM  to  cormpood  in  tbt  navy,  to  that  beM  bjr  Waahinf  • 
too  in  the  army.  His  oOioial  appaiUoioo,  among  Munn.  ap- 
paara  to  have  been  that  of  "  Commodore,"  though  ha  waa  flr»- 
MMitly  ityled  •*  Admiral,"  in  tha  papers  of  the  jperiod.  Ths 
Mptaina  wera  particularly  named  to  tha  leapeotive  ahipa,  and 
the  law  waa  ao  oonatnied,  that  tha  lieuteoanta  irera  attached 
to  the  diflbrant  vaaaels  in  tha  u^dnr  in  which  they  ware  ra> 

■peetiv(4y  named.  .         .^  ,^  ,.. 

By  thia  reaolutioa,  or  law,  h  wooM  "pi^^ur  that  two  Mp, 
tha  Andrea  Doria,  and  the  Uabot,  had  been  purchaaed,  moat 
probably  by  the  Marina  Committee,  previously  to  ita  pasaagv. 
or  tlw  praoiaa  (opm  of  the  latter  vaaad  no  authentic  aooount 
mm  be  iband,  but  it  ia  thought  to  have  been  16  aixes.  It 
•paearB  by  a  letter  of  Puil  Jonea,  however,  that  the  armament 
oT  the  Doria  was  14  fours,  and  the  Cabot  may  have  been  of 

The  equipment  of  all  the  vaaaeb  mtotioned,  as  wall  as  of 
two  or  three  more  of  less  siM,  waa  joing  on  in  the  antumn 
•r  1775,  ths  appointment  of  their  oOoers  waa  made  at  tha 
oloaa  of  the  year,  and  tha  first  ensign  ever  shown  by  a  regu- 
lar Amerloan  man-of-war,  waa  hoioled  ia  the  Delaware,  on 
board  the  Alfted,  by  the  handa  of  Paul  JoMB.  aone  time  about 
tlM  last  of  Daoembar.  Thie  event  oouM.  not  have  ooourrad 
Mwioualy  to  tha  vote  appokting  a  comsaandar-in'Ohiaf,  as  w» 
ueeipNMly  told  tiiat  the  flag  waa  shown  when  that  oOear 
list  miaind  on  board  hk  ship.  What  that  enaian  was,  ia  not 
■ow  eertainly  knovm,  but  it  la  thought  to  have  been  a  device 

atreeaotiiMt  a  Tpim  tree,  with  a  lattlesnako  about  to  atrUn* 
led  at  ita  root,  and  bearing  thia  motto  *•  doo't  tread  oo  me.** 
The  first  regular  cruiseia  that  ever  flat  to  sea  under  the  new 
mvemment  were  the  Horast  10,  and  Wasp  8,  a  sloop  and  a 
nhooner  that  had  been  eouipped  at  Baltimora  \n  tha  Mafiae 
Cbmmitlefe,  and  whioh  sailed  in  November,  to  joia  the  squad 
ran  under  Commodore  HopUna,  in  the  Delaware.  This  paa. 
aage,  however,  eannot  ptoiparly  be  called  a  ouiae.  fW  tha 
ftfst  of  these  we  moat  BrobabHr  reAr  to  die  LeziaftaB  14,  a 
brig,  the  eommand  of  wUoh  had  been  gbrea  to  John  Any,  a 
ahb-mastor  of  Philadelphia,  of  eiedit  aod  skiU.  By  other 
aiatements,  the  sqnadroB  under  the  ordM*  of  Comawdore  Hop- 
kins got  out  Wbre  the  Leiiagtoa ;  but  we  ate  dspoaed  ta 
believe  that  this  is  an  error ;  not  only  because  the  sailing  of 
the  Lexington  appears  to  be  asaerled  oa  themostnobable  au- 
thority, but  because  it  is  more  reasooable  to  believe,  Aat,  aa- 


■MiM 


mmm 


pfTl. 
Wuhioff* 

bd.  The 
■biphMiid 
•  •UMbed 

two  bnfi( 


lioaoooimt 

■ixM.    It 

wrmwiMtit 

•  bsM  of 

lldlMof 

Im  tntumn 
MdeatOw 
by  anga* 
iiawu«,on 
UnMi  about 

B  OOOUffM 
IIMfi  M  WQ 

that  oAoaf - 
waii,bnot 
anadevioe 
t  to  aftiUn, 
id  on  DM.** 
lar  tha  iMfW 
doop  aada 
thaMatiM 
theaqoad 

n.    fWUM 

liaBury,  a 

By  omr 

lodMeHop- 

**  -   a  A— 

eaailingof 
HnbaUeaa- 
nre,  Aat,M 


ItTtJ 


IIATAL    MltTOKT. 


hatwaan  vaaaab  flMed  in  Uw  muim  place,  and  noar  tba  aama 
tiflw,  a  ainfia  oiuiaar  oould  praoada  a  aauadroo.  It  would 
aaam  that  tba  Launaton  waa  purchaaod  earlier  than  tha  AlOrad, 
•ad,  in  the  nature  or  thinfihwaannorarMMlilv  equipped.  IIm 
koaour  haa  long  baao  claimed  for  C^>tain  Barry,  and,  on  aa 
doaa  an  euminatioe  of  tba  flMJta,  aa  our  nwana  will  allow,  wa 
baliara  it  to  be  hia  due.  Tba  Lexington  muat  have  left  tba 
Cuaa  of  tba  Dabwara  late  in  January,  or  early  in  February, 
1776,  with  ofdara  to  cniiaa  (o  tba  aoutbward. 

The  plana  of  Coagraaa  bad  changed  between  tba  tbna  whan 
tba  veaada  ware  ordarad  aad  that  oa  wbkA  they  were  laady 
for  aenrioe.  CoeiBiodon  iio|ikiaa  waa  aooordingly  diraolad 
alao  to  proceed  to  the  aoutbward,  with  a  view  to  a«t  aoaiaal 
tba  nafal  foroa,  which  waa  tbaa  ravagiim  tba  ooaai  of  Vir. 

K'  lia,  under  Loid  Ounmora.    Tba  a^adfoa  badi  fot  iaio  tka 
y.  and  readawrouaad  uadar  Cape  ShakipM^  aaily  ia  Fab- 
suary.    It  eoaajrtad  of  tba  AUhd  t4,  Colooihiia  M,  Doria  K 


Cabal  UJPravyMHa  If ,  Horaal  10,  Waap  8,  aad  Fly  tepatab 
vaaML  Wkh  tkia  fovea  GoBMBodoiaHopkuia  got  to  aaaoa 
the  17tb  of  Fbbraary.  Oa  tba  aight  of  tba  IMk,  aa  tba 
'  f  aotttb  wtib  a  ftaab  bMMM,  tba  Hontat 
My,  aad  did  aal  joia  agida  duiiif  tba 
aav  bapovtaaea  waa  aaat  uatU  tba  ahipa 
I  Babaiaaa,  wbeia  tba  aqaadwa  bad  baaa 


_  aotttb  wtib  a  flaab 
aad  Fly  nartad  oompaay,  aad 
eniiaa.    No  vaaael  of  i 
leacbed  Abaoo,  hi  tba ) 

ordandtoiandaavoaa.  H«raCoaHBodanIIiqpkiBi< 
to  BMika  a  d<aeant  oa  New  PravidMiaa,  whaia  it  i 
ateod  a  ooadldaiahia  anHuat  of  mOitary  atona  wai 
Fortbiaparpaaa,abodyof  •OOami.awriaaaaad  _ 

uadar  tba  nnnaaaad  of  Oaptaia  Nioboia,tba  aaaior  nauiaa 
oOoer  of  tba  aarrioa,  waa  pot  iaio  two  aloopa,  with  tba  boaa 
of  aarpriaiag  tba  plaoe.  Am  tba  aquadroa  appnaobad  tba 
Iowa,  bowaver,  aa  ahrni  waa  givaa,  when  tba  akwpa  waaa 
aaat  ia,  with  tba  PMvidHiaa  19.  aad  Waap  8,  to  oover  tba 
bndiag.    Tbia  doty  waa  baadmaaly  porformad,  aad  Cbptaib 

Wiobola  got  eooylata  pn ina  of  tba  fotta.  aad  eatiae  coa^ 

laaadof  tbophMiiatbaooQnapftbaaAaraooaaad  of  tba 
foUowfaMannJBg,allaraTa^iaaigBifkiaati««aiance.  Ua- 
fortoaaMy,  tba  gafanor,  awave  of  tba  awtiTa  of  tba  daaMat, 
ftuad  BMaaate aaid aiMiy  a fflMidafahie  quaataty  of  powdv 


dttr<n|  tba  night  Near  a  buadiad  eaaaoo,  aad  a  large  aaaa* 
lily  of  olbar  atoiai,  k»w«rar,  ftU  iato  tba  banda  of  tba  Ana. 
rksaaa.  Oa  Ois  aecadoa.  tba  irat  that  avor  oocairad  ia  tba 
regular  AaMrieaa  Navy,  tba  maiiaea  uadar  O^tak  Niehala, 


NATAL    HliTO»T. 


(im 


■poMr  to  hav.  tehnvwl  with  a  •mrit  and  ■te^diiiw.  th»t  >iii7<> 
durtinKuUlMHl  the  corp..  from  tUt  hour  down  to  th«  pi«-ot 

"Twrnrtoining  po-e-ioo  •  few  d.yt.  C^om.nodor*.  Hopklwi 
left  N«w  Providwico  on  tha  I7th  of  March.  bnnginK  aw.v  wtlh 
him  lh.1  aovrrnor  and  one  or  two  inmi  of  note,  and  araiplnghto 
courw  ic?  Ihn  northward.  Soma  of  the  ampler  »«-«U  •««•» 
to  ha»e  left  him,  ««  he  proceaied  akm^  t»*e  ooa^v  but,  with 
moatof  hia.forca.  in  or«r^.»" -"TVf  J^.^ltl^ 


LoDg  laland,  early  in  April,  t)n  ibo  4th.  h«  f*P<'Jf?J.'»  «*"»*; 
of  aix  guiw,  comimf 


\ 


(M  aix  gun..  com..*fHlod  by  »  aon  of  Commodow  WalliWB,  and 
«,  the  ftib  he  feU  in  with  Ld  took  th»  Brittah  Bomb  Brif  Bo». 
tOB,  8,  Lieutwwnt  Hn«ad.  .  ^^ 

4bou.  one  o'clock  in  the  mornm|  oi  the  'Ith  of  ApfU.  WJ 
•quadron  boinji  a  liule  «:«ttered.  a  large  ah.p  WM  <^^*^ 
3«ring  towani.  the  Alft«l.  Tha  winS  wa.  light,  and  tha  •» 
quite  amooth ;  and  about  two,  the  atranger  havl»|  «<««  •»»«*. 
th«  Cabot  cl«wd  with  him,  and  baited.  8000  eRer  the  l^k7 
flittd  *  bmadaide.  Tho  flint  diacharge  ^  »»».  »«••  ^^.ff 
•Miua  to  hate  been  well  difacted,  but  hef  mm\  ^•»^^*^ 
too  light  to  oonteud  with  an  enemy  Uk«  the  qm •»•  •»««»^ 
•cited.  Id  «  few  minutea  Bh«  waa  oonwelled  to  taul  »ow« 
Ker  tacks,  to  g«t  from  under  the  guoa  ofher  anlagojjW..  h»v..H[ 
h«d  hcf  captain  aeverely  woundad,  her  tnaater  niwoi  mm  * 

""'TniTAlfii  oowSr the^plao^  of  the  Caojt.  madn%  \iM^ 
aomety  alongside  of  the  enemy  and  <MiTerinf  herflw.  »«« 
after,  the  PrSvldaW*  got  under  the  atera  of  the  Bogllah  thip, 
and  the  And«a  Don.  waa  enabW  to  come  naar  enough  to  do 
«>me  «>rrk5e.  The  Columboa  wm  k«»  »t  •  ^*^y^ 
of  wind.  After  a  amart  canoooado  of  iraf  an  """^  «f»X;2 
and  wheel-rope  of  the  Alfiwd  www  ahot  aw»y,  •»«  the  afcj 
broa"h«l  to ;  by  which  accident  ihfc  enemy  was  enabtod  to  raw 
her  w.ih  cIToct.  Being  aatiafted,  however,  ♦"•*  J'«»'>2^ 
impo«iiblp,  the  Engliah  commander  ptofltod  by  thU  ■«»»»■«« 
to  put  his  helm  up,  and  bro^l  all  tba  *"»™*»J3! 
aatem.  Sailing  better  than  any  of  the  aqtiadrM*  moM  w  «>»» 
wen  deep,  a.  well  aa  dull,  in  eonaeqaeoce  ofthe  •"»«!?* 
atorea  they  had  taken  on  board,  the  eowny  •«o*rty«  '^Tlv 
gained  on  hia  purat»-a,  thou^  •  w«ri«  «*?f^,J^rr 
Sp  by  both  partiea  oiiai  put  dayliAt  By_«i«  «g* J* 
aCip^had  «t  »  fcr  to  the  -"^w^^^ilCommodwoH^^ 
felt  appreheMive  the  ftring  woaW  briag  ort  Ow  timfon 


■ail 


put 

that  iM'f* 
h«  prmMl 

«  HopkiM 
Kw«^  with 
ihAptDg  hk 
wU  ftppMr 
-.  but,  with 
Mtcfwl  or 
kI  » t»n^t 
'«ll«oe,  Kixi 

r  AprU,tiM 

■ud  (ho  Mt 
gone  tttwut, 
»r  tiM  I*lk7 

•  nmm\  ip* 

•  tltofother 

•iM  tilMi  M" 

tnbt,  hev..ig 
ilM,  ud  « 

njinglMtd- 
fln.  Boon 
kiglith  thip, 
cKMigh  to  do 
^m  ror  wnat 
ir,  Um  blor^k 
ind  Uw  nhip 
ibMtortlM 
victory  wM 

his  MttllMtt 

rioua  tMMite 

iMtorwKioli 

lOtuEuwa  *nA 

MMMwUly 

:  o*elook  Um 
towKopkkw 
Iw  Newport 


ITIt]  RATAL    mtTOMr.  # 

•quadrTM) ;  and  Mtiinff  littli  chanoe  or  overtaking  Iha  chM«,  he 
imtle  A  •Ignal  tor  hii«  voMuia  'o  haul  by  the  wimJ,  Capturing 
•  Undmt  that  wm  ia  companv  with  the  ahip  that  had  aaoapatn 
liM  aquadron  Dow  want  into  N«w  Lundor,  lh«  port  to  which  it 
wwi  hound. 

Tha  vaaaal  that  rngaged  th«  AnMrican  ahipa,  on  thia  coca- 
r>oa,  waa  tha  Olaagow,  UO,  C^iutain  Tyringham  Howe,  with  a 
Otvw  of  about  ooa  hundred  and  fiAy  aoula.  In  avary  thittg  hut 
tha  number  of  her  man,  the  CHaagow  waa  probably  (iparlor  lo 
any  one  ih.p  in  tho  American  M^uadron ;  but  iN»r  nioaa  encounlar 
with,  and  ttvtmtual  fiacapn  fhtm  ao  many  ?aaa«U,  reAadad 
gmat  credit  ou  hrr  rxMrnnander.  Mh«  waa  a  good  deal  cut  up, 
Dotwithatandiiig,  and  had  four  men  killed  and  wounded.  Oa 
tlM  o^r  hand,  both  the  Alfrwl  and  the  Cabot  auitbred  materi- 
ally, the  former  <Vom  havin^  boon  raked,  and  the  latter  from 
lying  oloaa  alongaide  a  vmnmI  ao  much  her  auperior  in  force. 
Tha  AlfVed  and  Cabot  had  tweaty.three  men  killed  and 
wouadad,  and  one  man  on  hoard  the  Columbua  kwt  an  arm 
vhiia  in  ohaae. 

Tha  raault  of  this  flrat  eaaay  of  the  American  nary,  cauaed 
much  axullatioa  in  the  country.  The  affiiir  was  repreaented 
aa  a  sort  of  victory,  in  which  three  light  vessels  of  war  had 
batn  taken,  and  one  of  fome  compoUedto  ran.  A  s^rt  time, 
however,  ssrvad  to  correct  theaa  errors,  aad  pubiio  opia^ 
probably  want  as  fltr  jt  the  opoostta  eitreme,  where  it  womU 
to  kava  basQ  piHrroanently  fUed,  by  subsequent  histo> 


Odmrnodora  Hopkins  was  Isft  in  oommand  wme  time  loofw, 
it  is  trae,  and  he  carried  the  squadron  to  Rhode  lataod,  afow 
woahs  alier  hb  arrival,  but  ha  never  made  another  oruisa  in 
tha  Mivy.  On  the  I6th  of  October,  Congnnc  pused  a  vote  of 
floaaiiM  on  him,  for  ttot  perA^rming  tb«>  duties  on  which  ha  had 
hosn  sent  to  the  southward ;  and  on  tiiM  3d  of  JawjaiY,  1777, 
bf  a  vote  of  tl«t  body,  he  «va8  formally  dismihsed  ftom  the 
swioe.  No  commander-inwshtef  was  subaeauently  appoimed, 
thottsh  suck  a  meeaurs  was  raeommeiuied  lo  tbe  natioaal 
Isgiaiatare  by  a  committee  of  its  own  body,  August  94th.  1781 . 

As  an  oAist  to  the  escape  of  the  Glas|,'9w,  the  Lexiogten, 
CkiplaiB  Blurnr,  Ml  ia  whb  the  Edwani,  au  armed  (eadsr  of 
Hm  Lhrwpoot;  on  the  17th  of  April,  off  tha  O^m  of  VbgiBia, 
and  aAsr  a  elooe  aad  spirited  aetioa  of  nsar  an  hmr,  eaptoNd 
her.  ThoL«riBgloahadiburofhererawkaMta4woanded, 


NATAL    MUTOET. 


(ItW. 


vliU.  ih«  BdwMd  WM  cut  wrnly  to  fhcm,  wd  «•»  wilk  • 

oMnioweniic  »»»  priie-c»w,  lh«y  cMtrwAth*  bng  into  »m. 

under  the  oitkre  of  C^ftaia  John-too.  tod  in  jj^*  "T^ 
STEurop.,  wliei*  «!«•  wiU  .000  be  oo«iioa  to  note  her 


CHAPTER  V. 


I  Newpoft*  ■  ■•• 
had 


Wm  tto  AMikM  «|uMi«i  h^|o»  lijo  Ne 

-  -■—  A«M  «^  (tf  mam,    Ubbj  of  uie  .- — - 

SSU  fcf  U»  enii-  oriy,  .wl  ?«•«-«»»"»•  •'fj^ 
the  c«»ui«  of  ell  BritWi  teeeeb  In  ••^•r™»V  ^SSI 
wwirioW  Iwhwd  to  f»  <»  k«M«l  the  wivMe,  Ihel  ofwe 
II2ireM!»S^iJW*.»eeeeUorwef.  ltb*-«f«lM 

«d  the  detay  la  «illtorWiif  f««»I  ""^^i^JtHl 
gmt  May  <ir  the  eew-a^-io  the  amy.    »» «•  •^'Jj^ 
^iae  lli*  the  eewke  wae  ort  of  liTOUf .  ej»  tta^ 
SiTSwgow  I  for  by  0»e««e  ee  tfifiuif  e.  thie,  aw  the  opiripaa 

of  ofdiaary  nwa  uaaaMy  iaJuaooed.  p«,Tid*»a. 

b  hae  ben  eaid  that  the  reeealeweia  <»»*f*'®.*J^^^ 
RkLh  i>««^  and  eaidkn  i»wa  boriowad  ftom  the  wwy.  » 
StaJtoliS^  uT  At  Pn>tidr«»..ce«'teaaa^tba 
^  MtteSaaH  of  aUilary  wafertiwe,  iww  aeiambledto 

wStried  foTaol  akIiBf  tka  AUW  in  the  aotioo  wWi  »he  Qlaj 
JS.^SLmtoha5ta»««q«itt««l.    Captain  Ba-fd.  of 


Hi 


[.tf  w« 
|Ualo- 
•  raturn 
erpool'a 
Mtinw, 
sraw  on 
I  bar  10 
MO,  mmI 
loIklU- 

MKMMMi, 
WMkiM 

lots  htf 


HMO  1m4  - 

f  pnwMM 
mU  omws 

kMgttltf 

divria  • 
»  mufti 
iflkitvitli 

■ovidNw*) 
)  anny.  in 
•itki),tlM 
cmbM  to 
CMumlMMf 
iUmOIm> 
lawrdtof 


I  Ilium    I  I    I 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


49 


the^Providenoe,  was  cashiered,  though  it  does  not  appear  on 

The  day  after  the  dismissal  of  her  former  oommaoder.  or 
May  the  10th  1776.  Paul  Jones  was  directed  by  (SS^re 
Hopkms  to  take  charge  of  the  Providence,  and  to  carry  the 
borrowed  soldiers  to  J^w  York,  there  to  enlist  a  regular  crew, 
and  return  to  the  station.    This  duty  having  been  successfully 
performed,  the  sloop  was  hove  out,  cleaned,  refitted,  armed^ 
and  manned  for  a  cruise.    On  the  18th  of  June.  Captain  JonM 
•ailed  from  Newport,  with  a  convoy  loaded  wJ»h  mUitary  stores 
which  he  saw  into  Long  bland  Sound,  a  sei  .«3o  attended  with 
nak.  on  account  of  the  numerous  cruisers  of  the  ensmy.  While 
thus  emoloyed.  be  covered  the  escape  of  a  brig  from  St.  Do. 
^T*  feS°,^  *"*  ""'»»«y  ■««».  and  bound  to  New 
i^:^  ^^  waa  aoon  after  bought  into  the  service,  and 
became  the  Hampden  14.    After  performing  this  duty,  the 
Providence  was  employed  in  eruisiog  between  Boston  and  the 
iwawwe.  and  sha  even  ran  as  iar  south  as  Bermuda.  On  the 
1st  of  September,  while  on  the  hitter  service,  this  Uttle  sloop 
made  five  sad,  one  of  which  was  mistaken  for  a  large  me»- 
°^^*  .X^JT""*  "*"  *•*  latter  vessel,  she  proved  to  be 
alight  EnghiJifrkate,  and  a  fc^^  After  a  chase  of  four 

Hours  by  the  wind,  and  in  a  crass  sea,  the  enemy  had  so  ihr 
gamed  on  the  Pnmdenee  as  to  be  within  muskeCsbot.  on  her 
lee^uarter.  The  stimnger  had  early  opened  with  his  ehase 
yaw,  and  the  Prondenoe  now  returned  the  fin  with  her  Ikbt 
four-pounders,  showing  her  colours  Pteeeiving  that  oaptmo. 
or  some  bold  eipedient,  must  soon  determine  hi*  fiite.  Qmtebi 
Jooee  kept  edging  away,unta  he  had  gc^  rather  on  thek^ 
bow  of  the  enemy,  when  the  Providenoo  suddenly  w«Bt  of 
dead  before  the  wind,  setting  every  thing  that  would  dmw. 
ilus  unexpected  manoBuvre  brought  the  two  vessels  within 
l^-shot,  but  the  English  ship  having  been  taken  oomplataly 
^  surpnee.  before  she  could  get  herB^t  sails  set.  the^lMp 

iSST^.?'*'*^'?**'^**^  «?■•*•  The  Providence  failed  the 
iwt  Defore  the  wmd.  and  in  less  than  an  hour  dw  had  drawn 

^  ^^  *•*  "***  of  ahot,  and  finally  ewamed.  This 
!Sl'.f?"a!S!i.'*£?T**^  ■•  •*»  «°8«««»»»  of  several  toun 
with  the  Soletey  S8,  but,  as  has  been  said,  it  waa  Uttle  more 
than  «  clever  artifice,  in  which  Captain  Jones  diwMveied  nuieh 

5!!lil!!K.'Si'.?'T-.  ^?^  \  '^  *««*«»  ^  Providence, 
though  the  Sdebay  fired  a  hundred.  — -— • 

Captain  Jones  now  went  to  the  eastward,  where  ke  m«ie 

9 


^ 


M 


50 


MAVAL     HliTOBY. 


[177« 


\ 


-vera!  priM..  Here  he  was  chased  by  the  Milford  89,  and 
Kg  Kuld  ea-ily  ouuail  her,  ho  kept  just  out  of  gunshot 
for»?eral  hours,  t^.e  enemy,  who  measured  his  distance  bad^ 
S  -^t  of  the  time.    tL  affair  ha.  a\»o  been  exaggerated 

"^ASer&'jK'tha  Providence  went  upon  the  coaM.  off 
(Wau.  and  did  much  damage  to  the  enemy  s  fishermen, 
SST^  S  th«i  twelve  sail.'^Having  made  sateen  pnj^ 
raT  some  of  which  were  valuable,  Captain  Jones  returned  to 

'^  fiiE'tl  i«tum  of  the  Providence,  independence  T"  .<'«''*«i 
and  Congret.  had  set  abou  nore  regular  organuation  of  the 
Svy  STber  the  8d.  it  .ted  another  frigate  and  two  cu^-  , 
tew  to  be  built;  and  November  the  9th,  a  law  wu  pa^ 
authorisinE  the  Ustiuction  of  three  seventy-fours,  five  more 
S«S^!.k»pS>ar,  and  a  packet.  In  January  of  the  sue- 
SSSj'^eTIn^r  frigate  Sd  another  -loop  of  w„  were 
^^.  Eijjht  of  the  prize,  were  also  ^'"c^  t°^  J*^ 
into  the  wmce,  in  ths  course  of  the  yean.  1776  »nd  1777, 
wWkJ  «  SW  proceeded,  diver,  small  vesseU  were  du«5ted 

*°  w£?!te  ~^^i^»nder  Commodore  Hopkins,  broke  up. 
.U^bS^K*  limain  idle,  but  the  Columbu.  90.  maSe 
a  crobe,  Sder  Captein  Whipple,  to  the  ««!tward.  and  todc  a 
fei^S^.  The  Andrea  Dtoria  14.  Captam  Biddle,  went  m 
SI  Kmrd?r«^k.n,  and  wa.  even  more  -"o**?-*^  *^^^ 
p!««ide»»  in  annoying  the  enemy.  Thw  ve*el,  a  Uttle  brig, 
SST4Lrs,  Sly  took  twi»  anned  tmn^  «led  w,a, 

SKand  made  prixe.  of  «.  many  n»!l»«2r!!ILk  ^^  tto 

Sfinned  on  plau«ble  authority,  when  .be  ^^^'J^^ 

Delaware,  but  five  of  the  common  men  who  compowsd  Mr 

SS^^\S~  in  her;  the  re.i  haying  been  put  m^ 

SS;  and  their  place,  applied  by  volunteers  from  amoM 

Srjri«>ner..    Ciptein  Bid^le  «ined  «^^^J^)M^ 

cruiw,  and  he  wa.  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  RwMtolpM 

S8,  thui  rwently  launched.  ..-;«.  w,  inter. 

While  the  Uifited  Stetes'  cnii^r.  were  Au.  wtrw  m  mter^ 

oepting  the  Briti.h  tren.poH3  on  the  Jugh  *^^^^ 

crK  and  privateer,  were  bu.y  m  the  .«»  *»y 'n:«J«5 

SSThad  been  evacuated  by  the  •nen.y  o«U»17*of 

llareh,  of  thi.  year,  but  v««l.  cootouri  to  arri^ 

land  until  midwmraer ;  the  fact  not  being ^w^"™^ 
prevent  their  rteering  toward,  the  wrong  port.    HoUmOi^ 


Han 


I17t« 

>d  83,  and 
>r  gunshot 
nco  badly, 
[oggcrated 

coast,  off 
fishermen, 
een  prises 
returned  to 

«  declared, 
ition  of  the 
adtwocut« 
ras  passed, 
,  five  more 

of  the  sue- 
'  war  were 
to  be  taken 

and  1777, 
ere  directed 

I,  broke  up, 
M  20,  made 
,  and  took  a 
jle,  went  in 
fill  than  the 
a  little  brig, 
rts  filled  with 
sn,  that,  it  is 
ack  into  the 
>npoaed  her 
a  put  in  the 
from  among 
t«dit  for  thin 
lie  Randolph 

<tite  in  inter* 
I,  the  colony 
iray  in<shore. 

the  17th  of 
yefromEng- 
urn  iafimeto 

NoleMthan 


1776.] 


NAVAL    HISTOar. 


51 


i^''*^  "r.u'''"  "^  i*^  •'"'«'■  °''  <ho  Americans,  in  conse- 
quence  of  these  mistakes.  »,  ««  wnse- 

left^Plv^ir' M '  """'t"^  ^"«  ^''*"'«'  »*'  Captain  HattJing, 
17th  nte^'  '^'»««=»'"»?!t«.  «">y  on  the  morning  of  the 
17th  of  June,  and,  on  working  out  into  the  bay,  a  Lultorv 

fel  in  JS;  tSt'I  ""•  «""T'«'i«».  ""d  "bout  dusk  sS 
Imiln  Z\  ?'" ^™1"«"' "chooners,  which  had  been  en- 
gaged  in  a  runnrng  fight  with  two  Brituh  transports  that 
proved  too  heavy  for  them.  The  transports,  after  &  off 
ge  schooners  wont  into  Nantadcet  koad,  and  wcK 
2^il  oJM~''~r"'  *".''^  ^  »'  Captain  Wate™,  ^ 
SVv^L  .T^''"'^''''  '^  ""'«  «'uisor  that  had  so  Juecei! 

.h!^^tr;^r;"'"'""'^'^p^"^-»'^-  ^ 

nj2^  J^  ™Sl  •  '»,"n«'x>'w'  between  the  tnuisporls,  within 
pistol-shot,  fhe  schooners  followed,  but  did  nSt  appre«ch 
near  enough  .obeof  much  service.     Some hailinJlJ'S. 

from  the  largest  English  vessel  answend.  "Av  av— PM 
.tnko,"  and  a  broadsile  was  immediately  ^redimo^Loi 
fence.  A  sharp  action,  that  lasted  mora  ihaTan  houV  foT 
^wed,  when  both  the  English  ve-,!.  struck  1^1^^. 
porUoontamed  near  twSuadrod  K,Idiers  of  the  «um  SS 


In  this  close  luid  sharp  conflict,  the  Defence  was  a  aood 

lal    cut     UD  «1nft     »nA    .k<.   k_J    _• .      "  TnH 


j^i  _  .  t  « —  -"— K  "'uiHui,  ine  iMience  was  i 

ilJS  "JP  «'^\  »nd  •»»«  •"»<>  nine  men  wounded.  Th, 
JaMporIa  lort  eighteen  killed  and  a  large  number  wounded. 

■njjwerbd  the  hail  m  the  manner  stated. 

B.m^'Jri  ""T-"*  ''»^*n«'.  *i«h  the  •chooneft  in  com- 

mJ«V?«^^Sl'?L?"**^-  Thus  did  about  five  hundrod 
SS.  rf^^fef  c«rp.  in  the  British  amy.  fiill  i^t^ 
iiMilsofthBAmericwis,  by  mean*  of  these  llahtenrisBM.    It 

wit  flot  only  wwkeoed  the  enemy,  but  checked  hti  inleotioo 


■MM 


52 


NAVAL    HliTOat 


unt 


To  return  to  iho  vowels  left  at  Khooe  isiao^  proyideuoe,  a 
Uin  Jone.  camein  from  h»  ^jf~'^Xde? hi. or«kr. 
p,«ject  wa.  fof^^d  to^  wXl  dSSte  view  of  di.tre«ing 

12.  wero^ut  under  the  o^^^^^^^^  Z  two  fi«t 
Sf  ZV^  WhS  dSnJr  port.  theH«»pdg^  on 
^r^hTfLunoden  were  now  tranaforred  to  the  «^"5Tiaenc«,  auu 

import«»oe,  were  ten  t^^JJS^^^^^i^  time.  Ihat  the  fieUi-h 
,io«.  onto,  .bil.  to  ~J™SJ^Sfcr«m  "do« 


I 


iMi 


MMMI 


[1176 

ving  the 
tchange. 
Vttshing* 
lat  to  the 

len  Cap- 
idenoo, a 
liiBorderf 
istreaaiog 
Linericaiui 
at  region, 
'rovidence 
toot  hav* 
B  two  fint 
len  got  on 
The  crew 
lenoe,  and 
,  with  both 
the  Alfred 
isll  in  with, 
iah,  loaded 
g  in  Cana- 
oyne.    On 
i  of  the  last 
Bhargeofa 
the  Melliah 
\  fallen  into 
ice  did  Cap- 
is  intention 
e  to  letUng 
iution,  how- 
lit,  and  hav- 
Alfledwas 
w  to  get  the 
ihe  made  the 
Hoeathe  pie- 
u    Theene- 
him  to  doae 
le  hauled  up 
)  cover  thMDf 
on  the  aaoM 
ht  the  AUied 


1771] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


•ad  letter  of  maraue  tacked,  and  the  latter  showed  a  top-light 
until  morning.  ThU  artiftco  succooded,  the  Milibrd  anpearinir 
in  chase  of  the  Alfred  when  the  day  dawned,  while  the  Melliah 
•no,"*' consorts  had  disappeared  in  the  southern  boanl. 

The  Milfbrd  had  run  to  leeward  in  the  course  of  the  niitht, 
and  was  now  on  the  Alfted's  lee  quarter.  Some  manaHivring 
took  place  to  ascertain  the  stranger's  force,  for  it  was  not  then 
known  that  the  ship  in  sight  was  actually  a  flrigate.  In  the 
course  ofthe  day,  the  Alfred  was  compelled  to  carry  saU  hard, 
but  she  escaped,  though  the  letter  of  martjue  Ml  into  the  ene- 
my 8  hands.  After  eluding  her  enemy,  and  covering  all  her 
pnaes,  the  one  just  mentioned  eicoptod,  the  AlfVed  went  into 
BoMon,  where  she  found  the  rest  of  the  vessels,  and  where  she 
landed  her  prisoners.  Another  officer  took  charge  of  the  ship, 
and  Captam  Jones,  who  had  been  flattered  with  the  hope  of 
having  a  still  larger  force  put  under  his  orders,  was  placed  so 
low  on  the  list  by  the  new  regulation  of  navy  nnk,  aa  to  be 
obliged  to  look  round  for  a  single  ship,  and  that,  too,  of  •  force 
inferior  to  the  one  he  had  just  commanded. 

While  this  service  was  in  the  course  of  eieoution  at  the 
north,  several  small  cruisers  had  beim  sent  into  the  Weet  In- 
dies, to  convoy,  in  quest  of  arms,  or  to  oommunioale  with  the 
different  public  agents  in  that  quarter.    We  have  seen  the  man- 
ner  m  which  the  Lexington  had  been  oapturad  and  r^aken  on 
her  return  passage  from  thu  station,  und  we  have  now  to  al- 
lude  to  a  short  cruise  of  the  Reprisal,  Captain  Wiokea,  in  the 
same  quarter.    This  ship  sailed  early  in  the  summer,  for  Mmx. 
tinique,  capturing  several  prises  by  the  way.    When  new  her 
port,  the  English  sloop  of  war  Shark  16,  Captdn  Chapman, 
told  her  close  alongside,  and  -XHnmenced  a  bride  attack,  the 
Reprisal  Wng  both  lighter  than  the  enemy,  and  ahort-handed. 
Captam  Wickes  made  so  gallant  a  defence,  however,  that  thft 
Shark  was  repulsed  with  loss,  and  the  Amorioaa  got  into  the 
island  with  credit,  hundreds  having  witnesMd  the  affldr  from 
the  ^ore.    As  this  occurred  early  in  the  dhasoni-and  before 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  Shark  followed  the  Re. 
phmI  in,  and  her  captain  demanded  that  thegoveinor  ahould 
dehver  up  the  American  shfa)  aa  a  pirate,    ifia  denaiid  wm 
refused  of  course,  ahd  shortly  after  Oiptain  Wkskes  raturaed 
home.    With  a  view  to  oonnet^  the  train  of  events,  we  will 
now  follow  this  excellent  oflioer  to  the  Buropeao  aeaa. 

The  Reprisal  was  the  first  American  xauk-af-wu  that  ever 
showed  henelfm  the  other  hemisphere.  She  sailed  ihm  home 
o  • 


>c 


II 


Ji 


M 


HAVAL    HIBTOBT. 


iim. 


k 


not  loos  •Jtor  th«  DecUmtion  of  In<l«P*nJe.n<».  «»^PP«'"j 
Tf^  in  the  .utumn  of  1776.  bringing  m  w.th  hor^««^ 
n««U  and  having  Dr.  Franklin  on  boanJat  a  pa««)ngw.    A 
Few^rival«  3  pWcHlcd  her.  and  .light  difficuUkn.  had  oc 
cuTrSd  i^TatSn  Xo  .oine  of  iheir  pr.«e.  that  had  gone  inio 
SrSj  S.t  U  iXu«v«a  tha«  we«  the  firat  English  captured 
S\Z  had  entered  France  .inco  the  commencement  of  the 
AiSrSm  Revolution.    The  English  amba««dor  complained 
oHhi.  infraction  of  the  treaty  between  ;he  ^^ocom^oB^hMt 
iLn.  woTfound  to  diapo*  of  the  prize,  wthout  dotoctK.n 
The  Repriwil  having  refitted,  soon  sailed  towards  tlw  bay  oJ 
BU^VoTinoThcr  cruise.     Here  she  captured  f  veral  "iwro 
"3  ^d  ^ng  the  .est  a  king's  packet  that  pl«d  between 
pXoith  and  LUbon.     When  tke  cru«  ^."P?  ^"PjJ^ 
Wicke.  went  into  Nantea,  taking  his  prizes  with  h«n.    The 
«^mDlwnts  of  the  Enicliah  now  became  louder,  and  the  Amen- 
r  SmiillL  w^«  «cr«t.y  «l.moni.hed  of ^ J^J 
of  unng  greator  reserve.    The  pn«s  were  directed  to  quU 
Frwce,  tjSwh  the  Reprisal,  beina  leaky,  was  suffered  to  m- 
JSi  i^m  order  to  refit.    The  former  were  taken  into 
rXg^^^nd  sold,  the  state  of  the  time.  "?J«'«8  \»;^ '"; 
formal  p^ceeding.  necemry.     Bnormou.  >«-«.•?  *J*5?P: 
^nTwere  the  oonSequence.,  while  it  is  not  miprobaUe  that  the 
«rrt£lS2e^  «ad  their  influence  »  Wi««^  »he '- 
Slauthoritii;  to  the  chanwter  of  the  <'?f?-^«»v7^  *«.J: 
«!1.  .Meara  to  have  been  managed  with  dcxtentv,  and  the 
!!SeK"he  «KI.  -ucTa.  tb^were,  proved  o/great  .er- 
JSnftl*  ISnf^f  government,  by  enabling  them  to  pu^ 

'^iTJh  Sriix»«»-  U.  Captain  John.»«.  "^v^*" 
FrsLe^  and  the  old  difficultie.  were  renewed.    But  the  com- 
SSSere  at  ^Jb,  who  had  been  authoris«l  to  equip  ve«»I.. 
^rorl.!;^*do  oUK^rn^tter.  to  .nnoy  JJi«««y.«o^ 
pGnned  a  cruise  that  surpaswd  any  thing  ^^^^I^^ 
W  been  attempted  in  Europe  under  the  Americwi  flag.    0»P^ 
Sn  Wiekes  waTdirected  to  proceed  to  Ma,  with  his  own  ves- 
SrJ^JhTwg^S^d  tS  go  dlrecUy  off  IreUu«J^«  order 
to  iSoelJ  .  confoy  of  linen  ^ip.  that  ^»^f^^^^^ 
iouTtbat  time.    A  cutter  of  ten  guns,  called  »he  Do>Ph^ 
fw  l«d  been  orooured  by  the  commwioner.  to  carry  dea- 
S'tolS^^rir-.  dTvert^l  fiom  herorijjnal  d«jrtnaUon 
Kd  placed  under  the  order,  of  Captem  Wicke.     JltelM. 
phin  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant  S.  NichoUon,  a  brother 


UN 


[117& 

ppMfM 

•evenl 
ger.  A 
hadoc- 
une  into 
:npturedi 
U  of  tho 
nplaincd 
iriot,  but 
lotoction. 
0  bay  ol 
nil  more 

between 

Captain 
m.    Tht 
le  Ameri* 
necesaity 
d  to  quit 
r«d  to  re* 
sken  into 
;  theM  in> 
» the  cap* 
le  that  the 
OS  the  lo> 
The  buui- 
f,  and  the 

great  aer* 
m  to  puik 

arrived  in 

tthe  com* 

lip  veaaels, 

nemy,  now 

irt  th«t  had 

lag.    Cap* 

b  own  ves- 

kd,  in  order 

cted  to  sail 

le  Dolphin, 

carry  dea* 

destination 

The  Dol* 

I,  a  brother 


im.] 


MATAL     RIITOET. 


of  the  aenior  oaplain,  and  a  gentleman  who  subeequently  dM 
himaelf  at  the  head  ur  ihn  servico. 

Captain  Wicitos,  in  command  of  this  liaht  squadron,  sailed 
from  Nantes  about  the  cemmencomenl  of  June,  going  first  into 
the  Bay  o(  Biscay,  and  aAerwards  entirely  around  Ireland, 
awooping  the  sou  before  him  of  every  thing  that  was  not  of  a 
force  to  rcndur  an  attack  hopeless.  The  linen  ships  were 
misKxl,  but  many  vessels  wore  taken  or  destroyed.  As  the 
American  cruisers  aporoached  tho  French  coast,  on  their  re* 
turn,  a  line  of  battle  ship  gave  chase,  and  followed  them  nearly 
into  port.  Tho  Lexington  and  Dolphin  appear  to  have  eacaped 
without  much  difficulty,  by  separating ;  but  the  Reprisal  was 
ao  hard  pressed,  as  to  be  obliged  to  saw  her  bulwarka,  and 
even  to  cut  away  some  of  her  timbers ;  expedimits  that  were 
much  in  fiivour  among  the  seamen  of  the  day,  though  of  quae* 
tionable  utility. 

This  was  the  first  exploit  of  the  kind  in  the  war,  and  its 
boldness  and  success  seem  to  have  produced  so  much  senaa* 
tkm  in  Enpland,  that  the  French  government  waa  drivui  to 
the  neceaaity  of  entirely  throwing  aside  the  mask,  or  of  tak* 
i!^^  some  more  decided  stop  in  relatk>n  to  these  cruisers.  Not 
bcwg  yet  prepared  for  war,  it  resorted  to  the  latter  expedimit. 
The  Reprisal  and  Lexington  were  ordered  to  be  aeiaed,  and 
held  until  aecurity  waa  given  that  they  would  quit  the  Eato- 
pean  seaa,  while  the  prises  w<>re  oommandod  to  leave  Pranop 
without  delay.  The  latter  were  accordingly  taken  ou'akle  the 
port,  and  diqnaed  of  to  French  merchants,  in  the  aame  in 
formal  manner,  and  with  the  same  loss,  as  in  the  {wavioua 
cases,  while  the  vessels  of  war  prepared  to  return  home. 

In  September  the  Lexin^  sailed  from  Morlaix,  in  which 
port  she  had  taken  reAige  m  the  chaae,  and  next  day  ahe  Ml 
in  with  tho  British  inan-of*war*cutter  Alert,  Lieutenant  Basely, 
a  veaael  of  a  force  a  trifle  lees  than  her  own,  when  an  engage* 
ment  took  place.  The  lightness  of  the  vesads,  and  the  lougl, 
ness  of  the  water,  rendered  the  fire  on  both  sides  yery  indSc 
tive;  and  after,  an  actwo  of  two  hours  and  a  half,  the  Lexinf. 
ton  had  expended  neariy  all  her  powder,  without  subduing  her 
gallant  opponent.    The  Alert,  however,  had  sufifeied  so  much 
abft,  as  to  enable  the  brig  to  leave  her.    Notwithatendiag  thia 
advantage,  ao  much  activity  was  shown  <m  board  the  Endiah 
veaael,  that,  aAer  a  chase  of  ibur  hours,  she  waa  enabled  to 
get  alongakle  of  the  Lexington  again,  while  the  latter  waa  her* 
adf  repairing  damages.    A  one*aidod  IMttJc  now  occurred,  the 


56 


MATAL     HItTORT. 


(im 


Lsxingtoo  not  h*viog  it  in  her  poww  to  kaep  up  a  flw  of  any 
montent,  and  art«r  receiving  that  of  hui  |)«r»cv«TrnR  antaflO* 
OMt  for  another  Jiour,  Cnptain  Johiwlon  wiui  4'.Hiip9llaa  tc 
•Uike,  to  Mve  Iha  livm  of  hia  crew. 

The  fcte  of  tte  Kepruial,  a  verwel  that  hao  otfen  \mn  mom 
■ucceaaful  than  bar  t5on«ort,  waa  ^U  harAur.  ThJa  ahip  alao 
•ailed  for  America,  agreeably  to  ilw  cooditioiui  nuute  with  th* 
French  govsmnieot,  and  foundernd  on  lh«>  banka  of  Nowfound- 
tand,  all  on  board  p*  ruihing  with  tho  aiomtioo  of  the  cook. 
In  Captain  Wiokaa  the  country  loat  a  gaftanl,  pnidont,  and 
efficient  oflicer,  and  one  who  promiaed  to  riaa  high  in  tba  pro- 
Aaaion  had  \m  liib  boen  aparfM). 

To  the  untimely  lo«i  of  the  Repriwi,  and  'he  unfortunate 
capture  of  the  LBsington,  tnuat  be  saltributwl  lh«  little  *olat 
that  attcncJwi  the  anrvicca  of  theae  t»  >  voiwols  in  Eumne,  They 
not  only  preceded  all  (he  other  national  cruiaera  in  the  Kuro- 
peac  aeaa,  but  they  did  great  poaitivo  injury  to  the  oommerce 
of  the  enemy,  boswlea  exciting  auch  a  feeling  of  inaoourity  in 
the  Rnaliah  merrhanta,  n*  to  derange  their  plana,  and  to  pro- 
ditee  other  revolutkina  in  the  course  of  trttd'%  that  will  be  ad- 
ferted  to  in  the  cloee  of  the  chapter. 

While  the  commiaaiooera*  were  directing  the  moyeroonia  of 
Captain  Wickee,  in  the  menner  that  haa  been  roentiooed,  they 
were  not  idle  in  other  quartara.  A  amall  frigate  waa  bulldlnf 
tt  Nante«,  on  public  aooount,  and  there  will  be  occasion  lierw- 
ftfter  to  iP^  (rf"  her  aerricea  and  loae,  under  the  name  of  the 
Queen  of  Praaoe.  Some  time  i«»  the  apriu^  of  17T7,  an  agent 
waa  aenl  to  Dmmt  by  the  Ame>-tcan  commiaaionera,  where  be 
purchaaed  a  fine,  faat>aailing  Eagliah-built  cutter,  and  had  her 
carried  acroaa  to  Dunkirk.  Here  ahe  waa  privately  «|">PP®J 
aa  a  oniiaer,  and  named  the  Surpriae.  To  the  commaiM  of 
thia  veaael  Ckptaio  Guatavua  Conyngham  waa  anpointed,  by 
filling  up  a  bkuik  oommiaaion  from  John  Haaoooi,  the  Prea- 
ident  of  Coogieaa.  Thia  commimioa  bore  <tate  March  lit, 
1777,  and  it  would  aeera,  aa  ftilly  entitled  Mr.  Conyngham  to 
the  mnk  of  a  captain  in  the  navy,  aa  any  **ier  that  waa  ever 
iaaued  by  the  earns  authority.  H"ving  obtained  hia  offioera 
tiid  oi«w  in  Dunkirk,  Captain  Conyngham  aaiM  on  a  C!-uiae, 
•lout  the  lat  of  May,  and  on  the  4th  ha  took  a  brig  r»iled  the 
Joatnh.  On  the  7th,  when  within  a  few  loaguee  of  the  ooaM 
o/illolland,  the  Surpriae  ran  alongaide  of  the  Harwich  paokat, 

•  Dr.  FVanklia  and  Sika  Itaaaa. 


I. 


(inr 

raof  any 

ipvllad  (c 

mn  mora 
■hip  «lM 
I  with  th« 
lowfound* 
tlw  cook, 
iiktnt,  and 
n  tba  pro- 

nfortuMi* 
little  *c\»x 
»i».  They 
the  Kuro- 
oommeroe 
wourity  in 
[»d  to  pro- 
rill  b«  lid- 

ftmnnia  of 
onod,  th«y 
M  building 
laion  h«sr»» 
BiM  of  the 
r,  ma  agent 
,  where  be 
nd  had  her 
y  equipped 
mmiuid  of 
pointed,  by 
,  the  Prw- 
Mansh  lit, 
yngham  to 
It  was  ever 
hie  offloen 
m  a  rniiae, 
I  rnliod  th« 
f  th«i 
rich  paokait 


ITTT.J 


HArAL     HISTOIT. 


the  Pnnco  of  Oruagc,  which  ahn  boerdnd  nnd  took  with  ao  lit. 
th)  prevwiM  elarm,  that  Cmpfnin  (>)nynKhan.,  .ir  ..oing  upon 
tit«  *lock  of  hm  priae,  walked  coolly  down  into  lior  cabin, 
whore  ho  found  \m  mnntir  nnd  hi*  |WMmngt<ni  at  bnHekfwM. 
I  h<»  mail  for  iho  north  of  I'^uropn  br>iny  on  board  lh«)  Prince 
of  Uranjfr,  (Jaiitain  Conyngham  beliered  hw  acquiailion  to  be 
of  lumcient  importance  to  rolum  to  port,  end  accordinuly  re- 
•pMarad  at  Dunkirk  in  a  day  or  two. 

By  referring  to  lh<>  dalwi,  it  will  bo  •rcn,  thouiyh  both  tho 
Repnaal  and  tho  UxingUm,  .-(iiKJcially  tho  fimt,  had  cruiacd 
to  tho  huropeen  ara«  prior  to  tho  Milmu  of  the  Surpnw,  that 
the  latter  veawjl  oerformed  the  explois  juet  mentioned,  shortly 
B  r  .PfPu**"  .  '^'^  aailedon  hia  cruiae  m  the  IHah  and 
Kogliah  Channeli.  Coming  a^  it  did  mi  noon  after  the  cap- 
ture of  the  Lisbon  packet,  and  occurring  on  orwt  of  the  great 
tboroughfiirM  btfwecn  Kngland  nnd  (ho  continent,  coupled 
with  the  fact  that  the  cutter  had  been  altogether  equipped  in  a 
FrenchDort,  the  Iohi  of  tho  Prince  of  Orunjie  apponw  in  have 
attracted  more  attention  than  the  transactions  tefore  described. 
The  remonstrancea  of  the  Engli?-!!  ambxasador  wero  so  earn- 
Mt,  that  Captain  Conynghnm  mni  his  crew  v  i<re  imprisoned, 
the  cutter  was  seiwKl,  and  the  priies  were  liburated.  On  this 
oocasion  the  commiaaion  of  Captain  Cooyngharo  was  taken 
flrom  hua,  and  sent  to  VerHuliea,  and  it  seems  never  to  have 
Men  returned. 

So  completely  waa  tho  English  government  deceived  by  tbia 
demonatralion  of  an  intention  on  the  part  of  the  French  min. 
iatry  to  cause  the  treaty  to  be  reapeoled,  that  two  aloopa  of 
WR  were  actually  sent  to  Dunkirk  to  carry  Captain  Conyng. 
ham  and  his  people  to  Engbnd,  that  th^  might  be  trmd  iu 
^ratftk  When  the  ships  reached  Dunkirk,  as  will  be  seen  in 
the  suQoeMiing  events,  the  binis  had  flown. 

The  oonmUsaioneni  had  i»  view  the  capture  of  some  of 
the  trmnsports  with  Heasian  troops  on  board,  and  th«w  we» 
no  sooner  notified  of  the  seinire  of  the  Uurprise»  than  Mr. 

?z5*!i*'"  **^*  **•**  *"  °^  f^'^^  mrriat  to  the  cause,  wm 
u"^  to  procure  anothttr  cutter.  One  wan  m  i>rdin£;iy  pur. 
chaaed  at  Dunkirfc,  and  fitted,  with  all  despatch,  for  a  cniis«» 
Maane  ware  found  to  liberate  Captain  Con>  ngham  and  his  peo. 
^  A^  «hia  sooond  vessel,  which  waa  called  the  Revenge, 
"••^flwn  I>iuiktrk  on  the  18th  of  July,  or  aboat  tho  time 
tlwt  Captain  Wlekea  returned  from  his  craise  with  the  threo 
other  veasela.    A  new  commission  had  been  obtained  for  Cap. 


M 


NAVAL     HIITOHY. 


(1177. 


taia  Conyngham,  pmviouily  to  nuHiiig  Ui  •ca,  which  bore  Ante 
May  a«l,  17/7.  Aa  ihw  w»Am\  rommuwum  waa  dated  aiilo- 
rior  li»  itw  •oiiuro  of  the  old  oiw,  thare  ia  no  quoalion  that  it 
waa  n\^t  ••no  of  tJwae  in  blanic,  which  had  boon  confld*!  ta 
Ihfl  coniiiM»»ionora  to  fill  «l  ihuir  diaiinitiou. 

Thfl  Rwvcngit  proved  exctwJingly  •uccflaaftil,  innking  pritea 
daily,  and  jjonarally  dealroying  them.  Somo  of  iImj  iikwI  valu- 
abi-,  howev«5r,  were  on\fini  into  Spain,  where  many  arnvod  j 
their  «*«iU  provinu  of  groat  moim^nt  to  the  agenla  of  ihe  Aina- 
rican  governnunt  m  Kurop.  U  w  ovrn  affirmed  that  the  mo. 
ney  ailvanced  U)  Mr.  A<l«m«  lor  Iravelling  eipensta,  wh<n  hn 
lauded  in  Hpain  from  the  French  frigate  I*  Sen.  l.l<%  u  yoar 
or  two  later,  waa  derived  ftom  thia  •ource. 

Hevinij  autnirod  from  a  gale,  Captain  Conyngham  dwguiaed 
the  Uovong»i,  and  took  her  into  one  of  the  amall  Kngliih  porta, 
where  he  actually  refitted  without  detection.  Shor*'y  after,  he 
obtained  auppliea  in  Ireland,  jwying  for  them  by  bills  on  hia 
•genta  in  Spain.  In  abort,  after  a  oruiae  of  aln  '  mprwie- 
dnnted  auccoaa,  ao  far  aa  iiyury  to  the  English  uw  .vi.  uit«  waa 
concerned,  the  Revenge  went  into  Fenrol,  refitted,  anu  finally 
■ailed  for  ihe  American  aeaa,  where  it  would  dcmnge  the  or- 
der of  eventa  to  follow  her  at  thia  moment. 

The  acnaation  created  anwiig  the  Britiah  mflrrhanU,  by 
the  different  cruiaea  in  the  European  aeaa,  that  have  been 
recorded  iu  thia  chapter,  ia  atated  in  the  diplomatic  correapwid. 
enoo  of  the  day,  to  have  been  greater  than  that  produced,  in 
the  previouB  war,  by  the  squadron  of  the  celebrated  Thurot. 
Insurance  roae  to  an  cnormoua  height,  and,  in  apeaking  of  the 
cruiae  of  Captain  Wickoa  in  particular,  Mr.  Deane  obecrvca 
in  one  of  hia  lettera  to  Robert  Morria,  that  it  "  effectually 
•larmed  England,  prevented  the  great  fair  at  Cheater,  occa- 
aioned  insurance  to  riae,  and  even  deterred  thu  English  mer- 
chanta  from  shipping  goods  in  English  bottoma,  at  any  rate, 
■0  that  in  a  few  weeks,  fortp  tail  of  French  »kip»  were  load- 
ing  in  the  Thamea  on  freight;  an  inatance  never  before 
known."  In  the  same  letter,  this  commissioner  adds,— >'  In  a 
word,  Cunningham  (Cooyngham)  by  his  first  and  aeoond  bold 
expeditions,  is  Iwcomo  the  terr<.>  of  all  the  eastern  coaet  of 
England  and  Scotland,  and  ia  more  dreaded  than  Thurot  waa, 
in  the  late  war."  „ 

Inaurance,  in  some  instances,  nm  as  high  aa  twenty-ttvo 
per  cent.,  and  it  ia  even  affirmed  that  there  waa  a  short  period 


1_ 


iJhaa 


(1177. 


m«.] 


NATAL    NlfTOMV. 


50 


whan  ten  per  onnl.  wm  MkaU  hcimmn  Dorifr  and  Calaia,  a 
duUiiic^  or  only  anvan  loagmw. 

With  a  vmw  lo  inon«M  thn  naval  forca  (»f  the  country,  tha 
Bommiwononi  had  cauwHl  ■  (Vigata  of  oitraonlinary  aixn,  and 
of  iwculiar  armaimnt  ami  con.truolion  for  thi.t  |).rio«l,  to  bo 
laid  down  at  Anj^tordam.  This  chip  had  tho  k»rl  and  tidfla 
of  a  tw.>.dcck«r,  though  frignl«.»Mnlt,  and  hi-r  mam  tUnk  arma- 
mciil  was  inittndfMl  t..  connMl  of  ihirty.two  pounder!*.  Her 
naino  woa  tho  Indien.  In  con««Kiuonco  of  ihc<  appnhen. 
•iona  of  Iha  Dutch  gr)vi(rnnwnl,  and  tho  j<>alouay  of  that  of 
Mgland,  f:k)ngnj«a  waa  inducwl,  about  thin  tirw,  to  make  nn 
wwrlng  of  tho  Indian  to  li«iuiii  XVI.,  and  »ho  wat  wiuipped 
and  got  rt'ady  Cnr  mm,  m  a  French  v.wiirl  of  war.  In  tho  end, 
the  manner  in  which  thia  frigato  was  brought  into  the  sorvks 
of  om  of  tho  DOW  Anterican  Btates,  will  bo  shown. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

I",  ia  now  noceaaary  to  revert  to  ovent*  that  will  require  thu 
time  to  bo  carritid  liarlf  mo-o  (hnn  a  twelvemonth. 

Soon  artor  thfi  Uriiish  l«rt  Ilosum,  a  Captain  Mugford  ob. 
tained  the  use  of  a  smell  armed  vewwl  belonging  to  govern, 
ment,  called  tho  Frai.klin,  ami  getting  to  sea,  he  succoodod  in 
captunng  the  Hope,  a  ship  that  had  on  board  fine<!n  hundmd 
barrels  of  powder,  and  a  largn  quantity  of  intrenching  tools, 
mn^arnnges,  and  other  aloros.  This  veaaei  was  got  into 
Boaton,  in  sight  of  tlw  British  aouadron.  Attempting  another 
cruiae  immediately  allerwarda,  Captain  Mugford  lost  his  life 
in  making  a  gallant  and  successfiji  offort  to  repel  some  of  the 
cnnmy'a  boats,  which  had  endeavoured  to  carry  tho  Franklin 
and  a  amall  privateer  that  was  in  company,  by  boarding. 

On  the  eth  of  July,  or  two  daya  after  the  DeclaraUon  of 
Independence,  the  Sachem  10,  Captain  Robinson,  sailed  from 
the  Delaware  on  a  cruiao.  The  Sachem  was  sloop-rigged, 
and  (MM  of  the  lij^hteat  cruiaera  in  the  service.  When  a  fbw 
days  out  she  fell  in  with  an  English  letter  of  marquo,  a  Ja- 
maica-man,  and  captured  her,  after  a  sharp  contest.  Roth 
voiwela  are  said  to  have  auSirad  aevamly  in  this  affair,  and  lo 


■M 


60 


NAVAL     HIBTOET. 


{int. 


have  had  an  unusual  number  of  their  people  killed  and  wounded. 
Captain  Robinson  was  now  compelled  to  return  to  refit,  and 
arriving  at  Philadelphia  with  his  prixe,  the  Marine  Committee 
rewarded  him  for  his  success  by  giving  him  the  command  of 
the  Andrea  Doria  14,  then  recently  returned  from  her  cruise 
to  the  eastward  under  Captain  Biddle,  which  officer  had  been 
transferred  to  the  Randolph  38. 

The  Doria  sailed  shortly  after  for  St.  Eustatia,  to  bnng 
home  some  arms;  and  it  is  said  that  the  first  salute  ever  paid 
to  the  American  flag,  by  a  regular  government,  was  fired  m 
return  for  the  salute  of  the  Doria,  when  she  went  into  that 
island.  For  this  indiscretion  the  Dutch  governor  was  subse. 
quently  displaced.  .     /.  n        o- 

On  her  return  passage,  off  the  western  end  of  Porto  Rico, 
the  Doria  made  an  English  vessel  of  wM,  bearing  down  upon 
her  with  a  disposition  to  engage.    On  ranging  up  abeam,  the 
enemy  commenced  the  action  by  firing  a  broadside,  which  was 
immediately  returned  by  the  Doria.    A  very  sharp  contest  of 
two  hours  followed,  when  the  Englishman  struck.    The  pnze 
proved  to  be  the  Racehorse  12,  Lieutenant  Jones,  who  had 
been  sent  by  his  admiral  to  cruise  expressly  for  the  Dona. 
Lieutenant  Jones  was  mortally  wounded,  and  a  very  large  pro- 
portion of  the  Racehorse's  officers  and  crew  were  either  killed 
or  wounded.    The  Doria  lost  twelve  men,  including  all  the 
casualties.    Captain  Robinson  aiyi  his  prize  got  safely  inta 
Philadelphia,  in  due  season.    The  Doria  never  went  to  sea 
again,  being  shortly  after  burned  by  the  Americans  to  prevent 
her  falling  Tnto  the  hands  of  the  British  fleet,  when  the  cvacu- 
atimi  of  F<wt  Mifflin  gave  the  enemy  the  command  of  the 
Delaware.  _^ 

The  galleys  in  the  Delaware  had  a  long  and  well-contested 
■truggle  with  the  Roebuck,  44,  Captain  Hammond,  and  the 
Liverpool,  20,  Captain  Bel'.aw,  about  the  first  of  May  of  this 
year.  The  cannonade  was  handsomely  conducted,  anjl  it  re- 
suited  in  driving  the  enemv  from  ttie  river.  Dunng  this  afiair, 
the  Wasp,  8,  Captain  Alexander^  was  active  and  conspicuous, 
cutting  out  a  tender  of  the  English  ahipa  from  under  their 
guns. 

A  spirited  attack  was  also  made  <«  the  Phcenix,  44,  and 
Rose,  24,  in  the  Hudson,  on  the  third  of  Aueust,  by  six 
American  gallej-s.  1*6  firiiMf  was  heavy  and  well  maintainod 
for  two  hours,  both  sides  sa&ring  materially.  On  the  part 
of  the  galleys,  eighteen  men  were  killed  and  wounded,  and 


wounded. 

refit,  and 
[Jomnnittee 
tnm&nd  of 
her  cruise 

had  been 

,  to  brins 
>  ever  paid 
IS  fired  in 
It  into  that 
vas  aubse* 

»orto  Rico, 
jown  upon 
abeam,  the 
which  was 

contest  of 

The  prize 
,  who  had 

the  Doria. 
f  large  pro- 
ither  killed 
ing  all  the 

safely  int» 
rent  to  sea 
I  to  prevent 
1  the  cvaeu- 
«nd  of  the 

lU-contested 
id,  and  the 
May  of  this 
1,  moA  it  re> 
;  this'  aflair, 
xtnspicuous, 
ymist  their 

nix,  44,  and 
zust,  by  six 
I  maintainod 
[)n  the  pait 
oundeij,  and 


1776.] 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


61 


several, guns  wore  dismounted  by  shot.  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  is  not  known,  though  both  vessels  were  repeatedly 
hulled. 

By  this  time  the  whole  coast  was  alive  with  adventures  of 
such  a  nature,  scarcely  a  week  passing  that  did  not  give  rise 
to  some  incident  that  would  have  interest  for  the  reader,  did 
the  limits  of  our  work  permit  us  to  enter  into  the  details. 
Wherever  an  enemy's  cruiser  ;)peared,  or  attempted  to  land 
skirmishes  ensued ;  and  in  some  of  these  little  affairs  as  much 
personal  gallantry  and  ingenuity  were  displayed  as  in  many 
of  the  more  important  combats.  The  coast  of  New  England 
generally,  the  Chesapeake,  and  the  coast  of  the  Carounaa, 
were  the  scenes  of  most  of  these  minor  exploits,  which,  like  all 
the  subordinate  incidents  of  a  great  struggle,  are  gn^dually 
becoming  lost  in  the  more  engrossing  events  of  the  war. 

October  12th,  of  this  year,  an  armed  British  brig,  the  name 
of  which  has  been  lost,  fitted  out  by  the  government  of  the 
kland  of  Jamaica,  made  an  attempt  on  a  small  convoy  of 
American  vessels,  off  Cape  Nicola  Mole,  in  the  West-Indies, 
then  in  charoe  of  the  privateer  Ranger,  18,  Captain  Hudson. 
Perceiving  the  aim  of  the  enemy,  Captain  Hudson  ran  under 
her  stem,  and  gave  her  a  severe  raking  fire.  The  action  thus 
commenced,  lasted  nearly  two  hours,  when  the  Ran^r 
boarded,  and  carried  the  bris,  hand  to  hand.  TLe  English 
vessel,  in  this  affiur,  reported  thirteen  men  killed  and  wounded, 
by  the  raking  broadside  of*the  Ranger  alone.  In  the  whole, 
she  had  between  thirty  and  forty  of  her  people  injured.  On 
her  return  from  thia  cruife,  the  Ranger  was  purchased  for  the 
navy. 

In  order  to  command  the  Lakes  Champlain  and  Geoi^, 
across  which  lay  the  ancient  and  direct  ooonmuBicatwD  with 
the  Canadas,  flotillas  had  been  oonatrucled  on  both  those  wa* 
ten,  by  the  Americans.  To  resist  this  force,  and  with  a  view, 
to  co^^rate  with  the  movements  of  their  troape,  the  British 
commenced  the  ooMtiuctioD  of  vessels  at  St  Jonn^s.  SevenJ 
men>of*war  were  laid  up,  in  the  St  Lawrence,  and  their  dSf 
cers  and  crows  wero  transferred  to  the  sbipfHOg  built  on  Lake 
Champlain. 

<  OotofaCTlltli,  General  Arnold,  wbocommandedtheAmerican 
flotilte,  wis  lying  <^  Cumberland  Head,  when  at  eight  in  the 
morning,  the  enemy  appeared  in  force,  to  the  nortliwani, 
tumiiig  to  windward  wilh  a  rjtfm  to  engage.  On  that  day  the 
American  vesseli  present,  ooittitfed  of  tM  Royal  Savagei  13, 
0 


mmm 


iMMiii 


63 


NAVAL     HIBTORT. 


[17m 


Revenge,  10,  Liberty,  10,  Lee,  cutter,  4,  CongniM,  galley,  10, 
Wwhington,  do.,  10,  Trumbull,  do.,  10,  and  eight  gondolai. 
Besides  the  cb'  ages  that  had  been  made  since  August,  two  or 
three  of  the  vesselii  that  were  on  the  hike  were  abwnt  on  other 
duty.  The  best  accounU  state  the  force  of  thui  flotilla,  or  of 
the  vessels  present,  as  follows,  vis : 
Guns,  00, 
Metal,  647  lbs. 

Men,    600,  including  soldiers. 

On  this  occasion,  the  British  brought  up  nearly  their  whole 

force,  although  having  the  disadvantage  of  being  to  leeward, 

all  their  vessels  could  not  get  into  close  action.    Captam 

DougUs,  of  the  Isis,  had  commanded  the  naval  movemento 

that  preceded  the  battles,  and  Lieutenant-General  Sir  Ouy 

CJarleton,  was  present,  in  person,  on  board  the  Mana.     1  he 

first  officer,  in  his  official  report  of  the  events,  mentons  that 

the  Inflexible  was  ready  to  sail,  within  twenty-eight  days  after 

her  keel  had  been  laid,  and  that  he  had  caused  to  be  equij»ped, 

between  July  and  October,  «♦  thirty  fighting  vessels  of  different 

Mits  and  sixes,  and  all  carrying  cannon."    Captam  Pnngle, 

of  the  Lord  Howe,  was  the  officer  actually  in  charge  of  the 

British  naval  force  on  the  lake,  and  he  commanded  in  person 

in  the  difibrent  encounters. 

The  aoUon  of  the  11th  of  October  commenced  at  eleven  m 
the  forenoon,  and  by  half-past  twelve  it  was  warm.  On  tha 
part  of  the  British,  the  batUe  for  It  long  time  was  pnncipaUy 
mrried  on  by  the  gun-boau,  which  were  enabled  to  sweep  up 
to  windwawl,  and  which,  by  their  weight  of  metal,  were  very 
efficient  in  smooth  water.  The  Carleton,  IS,  Lieutenant  Dacres, 
was  much  distinguished  on  this  day,  being  the  only  vessel  of 
.iie  that  oould  get  into  c\om>  fi^.  After  maintainiM  a  hot 
fire  for  saveral  hours,  Captain  Pnngle  judwkMisly  called  off 
the  vessels  that  were  engaged,  anchoring  just  out  of  gun-shot, 
with  an  intention  to  renew  the  attack  « »»»^««»"*°8-Jo  »» 
allkir  the  Americans,  who  had  nanifiMtod  great  jeidtoMs 
thraoghoiit  the  day,  had  about  00  kUled  and  wounded,  while 
SefiHtiri. acknowledged  aloM  of  ody  40.    TtoCMleton, 

however,  suffered  oomiderably.  - ,,  '  .^_ 

Satisfied  th»t  H  would  be  imposdble,  socoewflilly,  to  reust  so 
mat  a  «i|ie»lority  of  force,  General  AraoM  got  ««»«'7*3r}«M 
So  P.  ZTXe  18th.  with  the  wl«;  »«-»' jj-i^^; 
enemy  made  sail  in  chase,  as  toon  as  this  departure  w«t  «M- 
uoveNd,  but  neither  flotilla  oould  make  much  piufraii  fl«.«o- 


[17m 

alley,  10, 
gondolai. 
It,  two  or 
on  other 
ila,  or  of 


leir  whole 

>  leewftfd, 

Captain 

lovements 

Sir  Guy 
ria.  The 
itiona  that 
days  after 

eaul|<ped, 
)f  different 
n  Pringle, 
irgeof  the 
1  in  person 

t  eleven  in 
I.  On  the 
principally 
)  iweep  up 
were  very 
intDacrea, 
^vessel  of 
ining  a  hot 
r  calu9d  off 
f  gun-ahot, 
g.  jathia 


Dded,  while 
jsCwleton, 

,tore«tt80 
derway»jiit 
bedU  The 
ireiratdfo* 


1776.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


63 


count  of  the  gondolas,  which  were  unable  to  turn  to  windward. 
In  the  evening  the  wind  moderated,  when  the  Americans  gained 
materially  on  their  pursuers.  Another  change  occurrec^  how. 
ever,  and  a  singular  variation  in  the  currents  of  air,  now  fa- 
voured the  enemy ;  for  while  the  Americans  in  the  narrow 
part  of  the  lake,  were  contending  with  a  fresh  southerly  breeze, 
the  English  sot  the  wind  at  northeast,  which  brought  their 
leading  vessels  within  gunshot  at  12,  meridian,  on  the  18th. 

On  this  occasion.  Captain  Pringle,  in  the  Maria,  led  in  per- 
aon,  cloaely  supported  by  the  Inflexible  and  Carleton.  The 
Americans  were  much  scattered,  several  of  their  oondolas 
having  been  sunk  and  abandoned,  on  account  of  the  impossi- 
bility of  bringing  them  off.  General  Arnold,  in  the  Congress 
anlley,  covered  the  rear  of  his  retreating  flotilla,  having  the 
Washington  galley,  on  board  of  which  was  Brigadier-General 
Waterbury,  in  company.  The  latter  had  been  much  shattered 
in  the  fight  of  the  11th,  and  after  receiving  a  few  dose  broad- 
sides, she  was  compelled  to  strike.  GeTOral  Arnold  now  de- 
fended himself  like  a  lion,  in  the  Congress,  occupying  the  three 
vessels  of  the  enemy  so  lone  a  time,  as  to  enable  six  of  his 
little  fleet  to  escape.  When  further  resistance  was  out  of  the 
question,  he  ran  the  Congress  on  shore,  set  fire  to  her,  and  she 
Uaw  up  with  her  colours  flying. 

Althdugh  the  result  of  this  action  was  so  disastrous,  the 
American  arms  gaineu  much  credit  by  the  obstinacy  of  the  re- 
sistance. Genctd  Arnold,  in  particular,  covered  himself  with 
glory,  and  his  example  appears  to  have  been  nobly  folbwed  by 
moat  of  his  officers  and  men.  Even  the  enemy  did  justice  to 
the  seaolution  and  dull  with  which  the  American  flotilla  was 
managed,  the  disparity  in  the  force  rendering  victoiy  out  of 
the  question  from  the  first.  The  manner  in  which  the  iCVm- 
ONM  wtm  fought  until  she  had  covered  the  retreat  of  the  ^>■ 
leys,  and  the  stubborn  resolution  with  whidi  she  was  defended 
until  destroyed,  converted  the  disaster*  of  this  part  of  the  day, 
into  a  specieB  (^triumph. 

In  tbese  aAura,  the  Americans  lost  eteveo  veMeis,  princi- 
pally goaddas;  while  on  the  part  of  the  British,  two  gondolas 
«eremi^,aBd  one  blown  up.  ThelossofmenwastuMxwad 
to  be  about  equal,  np  less  than  sixty  of  the  earanTpermmgin 
tbe  fOiid6ia  that  blew  op.  Thia  stalemeDt  diAA  flmB  Uie 
pAnuMd  cAeial  aooounb  of  the  Eoj^;  but  those  nports, 
mUm  beiDg. meagre  and  general,  are  oooiUpditiMI  ^r  too 
mneh  (MdmoDy  on  tbs  other  tide,  to  oommand  our  respect. 


04 


NA?AL    HIBTORT. 


[1776-77. 


There  htu  been  occion,  already,  to  n»««>t>on  Mr.  John 
Manly,  who,  in  oouunand  of  the  ichooner  Lee,  made  the  first 
SS.  that  occurred  in  the  war.  The  activity  "d  i«oh^. 
tio£  of  this  officer,  rendered  hit  nan»  conspicuoua  at  the  com- 
rucemem  of  the  .truggle.  and  it  foUowed  "  •  °«J'«]«^' 
quenco,  that,  when  Congrew  regulated  tho  rank  of  the  cagwn.. 
k  1776,  he  appears  aTone  of  them,  his  appointment  haying 

Ln  ma'de  asSy  a.  April  the  17th.  ?f  tW.&h^^.S'  o^f 
indeed,  were  hi.  terrioes  then  appreciated,  ihat  the  nan»  of 
Captain  Manly  stand.  Mcond  on  the  list,  and  he  wa«  appointed 
to  Uw  command  of  the  Hancock.  82.    When  Ca^^.*>"'/ 
was  taken  into  the  navy,  the  Lee  wa.  given  to  Captain  W^ 
ters.  and  was  present  at  the  capture  of  the  ',hr«>  transports  off 
SS^  a.  hai  been  alr«.dy  stated.    This  littte  mshooner,  the 
name  of  which  wiU  ever  remain  aswxjiai^  with  American  hui. 
tory,  in  consequence  of  her  all-important  captures  in  1776, 
appMrs  to  have  continued  actively  employed,  as  an  in-shore 
cK  throughout  this  y«r,  if  not  l^r,  m  the  pay  of^ 
new  st^lte  oflLsachusetts.    Captam  Waten|,  bke  hui  pre^ 
oeasor.  Captain  Manly,  was  received  into  the  n»vy  o^  the 
^LnmEi  of  Washington.  »  ««?7S-'»,!i,^  ««^ 
having  been  granted  by  Congress,  March  18th,  1777. 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

Tm  year  1777  opeiied  with  better  PJRgB**".^*;'^.^!^ 
canoaiue.  The  toriSTmoveroent.  of  WaAmgton  m  I^^^ 
Jersey  had  r«atowd  the  drooping  confidence  of  tte  natoon,  and 

great  effort,  were  made  to  follow  im  g» J^^^^JHPjhg^^ 
Snwglorioudyobtained.    Mort of their^-eU. wtb^ 
the  bw.Vn7(<  h«i  been  built  «d ~«wadA»^ ^e" 
1776}  and  America  may  now  be  .aid,  «»»  *™ J™^;^ 
have  had  MNnething  Uk»  a  regular  paty,  although  the  .ervwa 

fidentinorgMii«atk«.flrrtwn,«d  tmi^  JJlSSaSLi 
fortconn«rtSd  with  it.ci««tioB,the  bu^of  Mpai^^ 

of  inereawig  thp  for«,  and  o<^  l«'?gf«JSS* 'JSLS 
been  wliMiil;  oonoMMed,  wm  either  totaUy  negiecied. 


«^ 


im.] 


NAYAL    HISTOBT. 


65 


sequence,  officers  were  ooaataotly  compelled  to  week  employ. 

plrne  did  not  advance,  as  would  otherwise  h»rt  been  the  aua 
d«nngthehe.tof«.cUvw.r.    To  the  n«»X*'7S 
■•tion,  however,  and  not  to  a  want  of  foiesight  and  prudeoM  < 
«HJJ  be  attnbatedthi.  State  of  things.  the^SL^TrS^S* 
maintainiM  troop,  being  obtained  with  difficulty,  and  the  eoS 

had  not  the  n»b..„  armed  ves«,l.  been  found  vmeM  in'^^S 
SJ'i!!„  !Sj^-!i*?*"=  ^"3  the  P«)d««,  by  means  of  whi^ 
^loan.  obt«wrf  m  Europe  were  met.  .nd>rh.ps  imCsn. 

qu«ter  of  tie  world,  that  the  navy  wooM  have  been  sufRn«d 
rivi;^!^*"'"^'  ^^  i^  «»playm«t  in  the  bayHS 
nvwofthecountry.  This,  h9w«ver.i  anticipating ey«to,ftr 
hL^^EH^i-TJS  '•"  2?  *»«*«'•  of  «»«  '^r  at  which  Z 
S!!  2^!!!^  •  *•*  •*?**»«>•  of «»»  n»public  were  perhape  at 
*7L^^  ■?  "*?«*■  »»■  •»^»>  armanients.  "^ 

^^^"^  ^'f' i  ""I  »»^  very  fiiBt  of  the  new  yesseb  that 
ffn^iL'"*""?"'^'^'*''-  ft  •»  been  seen  that  (V 
•oceeasfui  craiae  m  the  Andrea  Doria  14.  The  Randolnh  «m 
Whed  at  PlHl^lpbi.  in  the  oour«»  of  the^SSSW^ 
J-djuted  oo  her  fi«t  cnji*,  airlT  m  ITH.  wSolfa;  .' 
defects  hwrnart^MweU  a.  a  4^^  to  motinyinhi. 
people,  too  many  of  whom  were  »«lwiieer.  fiom  anrnnc  Se 

o«jbe  «1  in  with  and  captured  four  Smak*.iwr«r2f 

^^olph  retoraed  to  CharieMon  with  her  ptim£MwJ^ 
Herethe  upeare  to  have  been  blockaded  Igr  .^Mwior^ 

•nd  depertment  of  Oapiam  Biddte,  that  tfc^W  «ideil  fyn 
??^'«™«  »£*Wr  own,  the  Geneml  UoAtrie  18,  ttei>X 

16,  mdm pnvatwr.iriyeh had  been  cruisiBgoff ^rintoffiS 


RBKMMI 


mm 


§$  NATAL    HltTOBY. 

M«iB  time  The  American  squadron,  however,  »»<*»*«"*'- 
5Sd  ^lo^y  foul  wind.,?hat,  when  it  «ot  -J^  the  offing. 
Straoee  ofle  ^my  were  to  be  dwcover«a.  ?»' J^"*  ""^"T 
StoTcf  the  Randblph.  we  are  unhappily  mdebted  to  the 

®"By  a  STL.  Captain  Vincent,  of  hi.  Britannic  Majeaty^i 
.hiDVarmSithM,daS  March  17th,  1778,  wo  learn  that. 
«*^tte^of  thit^Lnth,  while  cruiaing  to  the  e-jwrj  of 
StrbSoei?l»  made  .ix  -ail  to  the  aouthweat.  .taadmg  on  a 
SSTxhe  Yarmouth  bore  down  on  the  cha«..  wh^h  prov^J 
Til  ♦-.«  .kin.  thrae  brim  and  a  ichooner.  About  nine 
?c£dc  i^  t^A  iSrZ.<>M  in  rangin.  up  on  the 
J^t  L»Sr  of  t»?large.t  and  loading  ve«el  o?  the  rtran- 

SrSJh  other  "t  the  tir«.  that  many  fragment 
rtruck  the  Yarmouth,  and  among  other  th«^«n  Ammoan 
enmsn.  rolkd  up,  wa«  blown  m  upon  her  forecartto.  i  n^nag 
SK)t  eva.  Snged.  The  ve«el.  in  company  now  rteered 
Sfer^  ra^.,SVhe  Yamouth  gave  cham,  to  tw^  ^|«J 
Mr  nwn  courw  for  that  purpowj.    But  her  aaiU  \m&  mfRtna 

w  nut  of  aiiiht  In  thia  short  acrion  the  Ywroouth,  by  the 
^rt  of  h^oin  Smmander.  had  five  men  Jil»«l  "^^J^^: 
•Sunded.  On  the  12th,  while  cruising  near  the  same  place,  k 
S  d^rrS  wa.  di«i>vered,  with  ibur  men  on  it,  who  were 
SS^^SSifo"«lief.  ThUe  men  were  .aveM«»d  when 
SS^TboLrd  the  Yarmouth,  they  «1»rted  then-dvea  « 
KKnged  to  the  United  Sute.  ship  ««»Sfc^';h^ 
JH«S£Tve.«>l  that  h«l  Mown  "?  »  •^'^  »^ 
B^£h  ri>ip  on  the  night  of  the  Tth  of  »>»  -^.""X 

out  inj  other  auatenanoe  thar.  '^i»  »»•*•*•*•     *  ^^  *■"" 
thikt  they  were  a  mooth  ool  «^  Cbwlerton^ 

We^eaard  with  admir  iwn  the  ateadineaa  Md  ■pml*'* 

wlS.^2K«to  ft^     ^  -nt  of  hi.  enemy.  Captain  BMkUe 

^^^SSttTUx^.  ..wont  a  force  «.  T«tly  Mm-FJ^ 

^^O^ogh  Twtorr  wf.   .  imoat  hopele^,  even  b^l  .U  IJ 

^!w£  beh^  equilly  wftii  »i?S  Ws  own  .hip,  w.  find  rt  dif- 


(Hti. 

id  boon  de- 
tho  ofiing, 
the  further 
bted  to  the 

c  MaJMty'i 
learn  that, 
iastward  of 
lading  on  a 
hich  proved 
About  nine 

fup  on  the 
the  Btran- 
I  to  leeward. 

the  neaieat 
waa  run  up. 
t  action  now 

for  twenty 
ibipa  were  ao 
of  the  wreck 
in  American 
9.    This  flag 

now  steered 
two,  wying 

bad  aumred 
idedaoon  run 
nouth,  by  the 
ed  and  twelve 
■ante  place, « 
I  it,  who  were 
ed,  and  when 
tberoaelvea  aa 
olph  83,  Cap* 
ction!  with  the 
■ama  month. 
r  wreck,  with* 
They  stated 

uDd  roiritwith 
[Captain  Biddl» 
rhiasupeiior^ 
nhadaUMa 
,  w«  fini  U  4if. 


im.] 


ItAVAL    HIBTORT. 


67 


ficuh.  under  the  circumatancea,  to  auppowi  that  thia  aiili.Bi 
•caflian  did  not  actually  contemplate  cir^^Uig  hia  Dower!!  « 
taaoBUt.  moat  probably  bv  boarding.      ^   '  ^  '**'""''  •"' 
Ib  March,  1777,  the  [fnhe<\  States  briir  Cabot  Canfin  ni 

Si  rr''r^-,*;?l:^"''r "» ««-'o?ivo;ascSK"Si 

Bntmh  fngate  M.lford.  which  pr«Med  the  Cabot ThardtKl 

tho  Labot  off,  and  she  was  taken  into  the  British  navv        ^ 
capt.«d  X  a  .mart  aclion.  two  a^i^tSlS^?' "^ 

^^:a^-Mi/i.---i^^^^ 

Toward,  the  middle  of  May  fhey  made  a  wif  to  iSS^* 
IllC.l^-    TheHan^'^beingtheXtSt^Xi! 
croasing  each  other  on  opposite  tacks,  and  exchaoffioff  brold 
tacked  and  oootmued  to  gain  on  the  chase.    As  so«»Md2[ 

tttmtC'hllL'i^T'  ""r^'*  **»  their  3J!S.'t«5 

«S  &I  J.  T  V^l  '«  ■  "^rt  time  the  HanowkhlJ 
go^  fiir  enough  aheed  and  to  windward  to  open  herflrT  wSn 
the  «ct«,n  commenced  in  ewnest.  AfterTcCaS  Jan! 
enga«mu,t  of  an  hour  and  thirty-five  itoTtJTejrj 
«ruc5  A,  this  rime,  or  while  tho  kncock  vT^o^^rK 
boat  to  take  possession,  the  Boston  came  down  flwnaiS 

r5  .iL      ^f**"?^  ••"?•    ^P*«"»  Manly  ntbuked  hir»»«rtL 
the  Fo«  28,  Ckptam  Fotheringham.    Her  low  waa  Wr  ha/ 

J^T^^-  P"*"'  *•*  "•»£?*  »»''  Pn»oeed«l  off  HkB. 

K^^_  •  I'?*  ^5"  "^  '•"»•    Thia  brought  but  th«  Rdobow 
44,  Capum  Sir  Geo,^  Qd^^  with  tElK«M?i3^ 


iWP 


iMMii 


igi^ 


68 


KAtAL     HIiTOat, 


imi. 


u  •  TI-.  FTora  omve  ch»m>  to  tto  Fo«,  tta  Bctoo  being 
a  .^Si^U,*Ciiward.  while  the  R-j^:  •-».\'£'; 
•^    J  .i!Tjr.w..«.w     The  Fo«  wM  captured  •fier  a  iion 

tef  *'^'   ^t^rthTCSck  into  their  .ervioe,  ciJling  her 
The  ooemy  took  tto  mn«^  ^^^^  ^^,^        ^^ 

the  In..    S»*  P^  uk^r^the  French  in  the  Weel-lndwi. 
&7S'Nrl«"5iril?ir/^      for  hi.  l-dcooducton 

^*:SSr'of  PhiUdelphi.  by  the  Britleh  army^thj. 
in.  °<^"r7"    j-_ij  change  in  the  natal  arrangemBOt. 

ITL"'^  Tp  to  twTZe.  the  D-V*" J-rr; 
®  r  iJ^f^treat  for  the  diflerent  oruiwr.,  and  .hip.  had 
■aO)  place  of  retreai  roc  h"  -curitv  and  to  advartage. 

been  con.rtructed  on  it.  '»°*' '?«J!!"f2^  ."^h  oWect.,  wd 

?m6  wis  ii^n^^Uoi  toVdopt  the  latter  espedjen^ 
ll  2^  Z.  «rried  to  different  pl««  that  were  «.ppo-rf 

STdS  h  2S^by  V«na«r  r«««!!LS^"?  *? 

dm  Dona  "' ""TT"^  ^  PennwhTania.  moved  w  front  of 

!E!     TtoEtetaSMrwa.  to  uDfcrtttnately  ptaoed.  that  when 
XrS^ftSrSrSk  the  ground,  «m1  her  gun.  became  un- 

Sae^  thi.  helple-  ^^J^J^  "~^"''  •*^''' 
iib,  they  now  turtiod  their  alteution  at  ooce  to  the  dertwow- 


«. 


iWM 


li 


tlllf. 

ton  being 
tod  Victor 
n  •  ihort 
tMcapin^. 
lighten  his 
oocukMied 
the  Victor. 
calUag  her 
■  thev  had, 
ITeeUlndiee. 
conduct  on 

army,  thi» 
ningenwnta 
had  been  a 
d  thipa  had 
I  advartage. 
Dbjbcta,  and 
equipped  at 
Iritiah  foroee 
I  ooinp!s!«ly 

were  in  the 
up  the  ri«er, 
nfortunately, 
ider  the  laws 
er  expedient, 
eresuppoaed 

were  above, 
reaching  the 
atteriea  to  in- 
re  of  the  oon* 
',  and  the  An* 
.b^Mwingto 
ed  in  front  of 
iswtodeatroy 
ed,  that  when 
IS  became  un* 
0  bear  on  herr 
iMrily  atniek, 

|>letotb»E^ 
ha  daatraoiioB 


rnrj 


NATAL    HIITOBT. 


eo 


of  the  American  works  below  the  town.  An  unaucoeealbl 
land  attack  waa  made  by  the  Ihleauana,  on  Rm]  Bank,  and  thia 
waa  soon  followed  bv  another  on  Fort  Mifflin,  which,  as  it 
was  entrusted  to  the  shi^ng,  comes  more  properly  within  our 
observation.  With  a  view  to  ^itct  the  reduction  or  abandon, 
ment  of  Fort  Mifflin,  the  British  ammmbled  a  sqi  adroo  of  ships 

ur!'?'"i*'"'*  °^  **'"'■'  ■™<"8  *bich  waa  the  Auguate  64, 
which  had  been  partially  stripped,  and  fitted  in  some  moasuiv 
" JJ  n    ^  battery.    As  soon  as  the  troops  advanced  against 
wnk,  as  stated,  the  ships  began  to  move,  but  some  ohd- 
vaux  de  Inse  anchored  in  the  river,  had  altered  its  channal, 
and  the  AugusU,  and  the  Merlin  sloop  of  war,  got  fast,  in  un' 
Ihvourabie  posiUona.    Some  firing  between  the  other  vtsseb 
find  the  American  works  and  galleys  now  took  place,  but  was 
soon  put  a  stop  to  by  the  approach  of  night.    The  next  day 
Uje  action  waa  renewed  with  spirit,  the  Rosboek  44,  Isis  88, 
Pmtl  82,  and  Liverpool  88,  being  present,  in  additi<m  to  the 
Augusta  and  Merlin.    F!re<«hips  were  ineflbctually  employed 
by  the  Anwrioans,  but  the  cannonade  became  heavy.    In  the 
midst  of  the  firing,  it  is  said  that  some  prassed  hay,  wbieh 
tad  been  secured  on  the  qu»:.ler  of  the  Augusta,  to  nader  her 
shot-proof,  took  fire,  and  the  ship  was  soon  in  flames.    Itnow 
became  necessary  to  withdraw  the  other  vaasela,  in  older  to 
esoap©  the  eflbcta  of  the  explosioa,  and  the  attack  waa  aban- 
doned.   The  Augusta  Mew  up,  and  the  Merlin  taring  been 
set  on  fire  by  tta  British  stared  tta  same  fiite.    Anuinberof 
tta  crew  of  tta  Augusta  were  kst  in  that  ahip,  tta  oonflagm- 
tion  being  so  rapid  as  to  prevent  ttair  lemoval.  Aseooodand 
betlerHMocerted  alteek,  however,  aborUy  after,  oompeUed  tta 
Americana  to  evMnaaie  tta  works,  when  tta  enemy  got  oom- 
mand  of  tta  river  fipom  tta  eapea  to  tta  town.    Tm  atato  of 
things  induced  tta  Americans  to  destroy  tta  few  sea  veaasia 
that  remained  below  Philadelphia,  amoogwhich  were  Ita  U. 
8.  brig  Andrea  Deria  14,  and  schooner  Wasp  8,  and  it  is  be- 
Iwved  tta  Hornet  10 ;  though  tta  galleys,  by  foUowtag  tta  Jer- 
seystare,  were  enabled  to  asoape  above. 

While  these  inmorlant  movements  were  occurring  in  tta 
jnMdle  states,  tta  RaWgfa,  a  fine  twelve-poonder  ftigita,  that 
tad  been  contruclBd  in  New  Hampahire,  under  tta  kw  of 
1T70,  waaenabfedtogetto  sea  for  tta  fiVst  time.  Stawaa 
oorananded  by  Oiptain  Thooqison,  and  sailed  in  eoapuiy 
with  tta  AlOed  S4,  Captain  Hinman.    Theae  two  ahipa' 


70 


HATAL    HIiTOET. 


finf. 


to 


^  ihort  of  men.  bound  to  F.»no<..  whew  mlUtary 
m  in  waiting  to  l«  traniporlwl  to  Aiwrio*. 
Th«  Raleigh  .nd  Alfred  had  •  g-Mnl  run  off  »hf  ««-«•  ^ 
ihiiv  ™do  «ever«l  priiea  of  lUtto  value  dunnn  th«  ftrat  tow 
a./,  d^lhtrr  !-l«V.  On  the  3d  of  HeptcmUir  >hey  oyef 
S^ll  oiPtu'X^now.  called  the  N«.oy,  whbh  h«l  b-n 
r^  by  h^  .Sward  Ln^^  l.».nd  "^-Mha  P^-^ 

ly     A*»rtaining  from  hi.  pri«..>n.  the  p<-..t.oa  of  the  W«t. 
iSuunen.  Captain  Thon.paoii  made  aait  in  clia«.      I »«  n^« 
wV-Td^  ihThargo  of  tte  Camel,  Uruid,  We.«,l,  and  Ura«. 
M  ."X  Frat  of  S^hich  i.  aaid  to  have  J-J  "  "rT;!,';/ 
t  JJv,..m.undera.    't^a  l«llowi..«  day,  or  Sfiple^^r  8d  1777. 
th..  Raleigh  made  th^  -nvoy  Irom  her  '"•^"»-^;,  ^^^f 
wnaet  wu  vmt  enough  to  a«M)rUm  that  l»«'"  w''*  "S^JJo: 
S^ll  a.  the  poaitioo.  of  the  men-of-war.    CapU.r.  Thomp^ 
Sn  had  got  thUgnal.  of  the  fleet  from  hi.  pn«.  and  be  now 
TnalW  U«  mZ,  «  if  Udonging  to  the  ~»*»y;  J^^"^ 
dTrk  be  .poke  hi.  con.ort.  and  ^.fected  her  ^^^'J^ 
Sep  near  him.  it  being  hi.  mtentwo  to  "«»  "jrr* '^^'^ 
my:  and  to  Uy  the  commodore  aboard      ^^  J*^'  '^'  '*° 
Anwrican  .hipa  wei«  to  windward,  but  nt     y  •«•"»•    ._^. 
X  tr<^rS  of  the  night  the  wind  -WfteJ «« ^^-^ISSl; 
and  the  oonvoy  hauled  by  the  wind,  5'»5H^Hr»5l;*r^ 
.hip.  to  leeward.     At  daylight  the  */'l»*f  JrtStf  f  •  i^ 
beSrno  reoea-iry      carry  mo«  aait  ^»»«^'Jrl£.*^ 
der..id«d  .hip)  oiild  bear.    Her«  «^«"«'.  ^  ^''Xi'^ 
Manoe.  of  the  unfortunate  con«H,uei«ea  wWcb  n^?»  •^^VJ 
SSTthe  emrteyment  of  Yr^!«  of  ungud  q^J'^ '^»~ 
Sme  «,uad«Si.  It  the  enjobymeot  ofoAoen.  ~»  ^'Ji'J^J^^ 
the  «ime  high  «;hool.    The  AHW  woaM  noj  hjM  Jm  «« 
^  and  whih  the  RaWah  fetched  h«  «<^ojnely  Into  th«  flWU 
iSr  dwhte-reefed  top«Jl..  the  fonmr  Wl  ^  to-i^r^  ««• 

«il,  leaVSicharaoteTmight  be  -uapected,  wd  J-P^  9^ 
bebg  .upported  by  the  Alf<*d,  be  rtood  boldly  »»  ««««;  V* 

mit  the  mirehantmon  aatera  to  draw  mora  abe«i «[  ««• 

When  hi.  ptan  wa.  1««,  Captain  T]»"f««  tSlZS 
and  atood  dinsdly  through  th«  ooovoy. '"«»«  "Pi^r^Jj,*^ 

woke  aeveral  of  the  merchantmen,  pvmg  th^m  o"»"  •»*/• 

Sr  Mif  betonging  hin-elf  i .  the  tk*t.  and  repeating alUh. 

/  ^.;,So«?^SS!.    Up  to  this  moment  the  R«l««h  qw^m 


lim. 

ry  itorM 

OMt.  ttoi 
fir«t  few 
wy  over* 
bMl  bwn 
I  prr>)out 
ih«  Went. 
TIk!  flee! 
II J  Ornec* 
wiTMint  of 
3kj.  1777, 
i,»i>d  bv 
•ixlyMuU 
I  Thoin|>. 
nd  benow 
)y.     AftM 
grwntkr  to 
ig  thcen** 

D. 

anrthwmrd, 

Aimrioui 
oad,  ud  Ik 
iwl  (•  INK 
r  thow  In* 
uit  ddwmyt 
itiM  in  the 

tniiMxi  ia 
it  h«r  oui* 
lotba  Ant, 
iwftrd  mot* 

to  thortra 
mptMagof 

amonf  the 
wder  to  per- 
9f  him. 
Itted  awty. 
towerdi  m 
MOg  thU  He 
rden  how  to 
MlingAlltht 
stghftpyMm 


IT7T4 


HATAI.    MIITORT. 


TI 


to  hav«  mtMpitA  dntotHion,  nor  had  ■ho  Iwul  any  algn*  '<r  pre- 

Ciratiun  •IhhiI  her,  aa  hor  ^un»  wvm  hcMied,  and  h<:r  pone 
wurod. 

Having  obtained  a  weetbedy  poaition,  (he  Raleigh  now  rut 
alongside  oflbe  veaael  oT  war,  and  when  within  pialol-ahot,  ihe 
haiilod  UD  hor  counwa,  ran  out  h«r  guna,  mI  Ii«r  enalKii,  and 
oommanded  the  «n«nriy  to  alriki*.  H»  completeiv  wai  ihit  vea- 
ael laknn  by  aurpriae,  that  tho  ortlrr  thww  her  into  groat  coo- 
Aiaioti,  and  oven  her  aaita  got  aback.  Tho  Raleigh  artzed  Ihia 
ibvourabk)  moment  to  pour  in  a  broedaide,  which  waa  Ibebly 
returned.  The  enemy  were  aoon  driven  from  their  guna,  and 
the  Raleigh  flmd  twelve  brosdaidea  into  Ihe  BogliJi  ahip  b 
twenty  mlnutee,  acar««ly  rw^ivmg  a  ahot  in  return.  A  hoavy 
awell  rnnd«i«d  ih«  aim  uncertain,  »Jt  it  waa  evident  that  the 
Britiah  veaael  auflbred  aeverely,  aod  thia  Ihe  more  ao,  M  ahe 
WM  oT  inferior  force. 

A  aquail  had  come  on,  and  at  firat  it  abut  in  the  two  ahipa 
engaged.  Whan  it  cleared  away,  the  convoy  waa  aeen  aleer- 
ing  in  all  direotiotia,  in  the  utmoat  cooAiaion ;  but  Ihe  veaaela 
of  war,  with  aeveral  heavv  well-armed  Weat-Indiamen,  laoked 
and  hauled  up  for  Ihe  Rateigh,  leaving  no  doubt  of  their  inteo- 
tiona  to  ennga.  The  frigate  lay  by  bar  adveraary  until  the 
other  veaaela  were  ao  n<>ar,  that  it  became  abeoiulely  neoeaaarv 
to  qui!  her,  and  then  ahe  ran  to  l(^  ward  and  joined  the  AllVed. 
Here  ahe  ahorteoed  aail,  and  waittxl  for  the  enemy  to  come 
down,  but  it  beiag  dark,  the  Brituh  oommodore  Uoked  and 
hauled  hi  among  boa  oonvoy  again.  The  Raleigh  and  Alfirad 
kept  near  tbia  Met  for  aeveral  daya ;  but  no  provocation  could 
induoa  tba  vewala  of  war  to  come  out  of  it,  and  it  waa  finaliy 


The  ahIp  MfBged  by  the  Raleigh,  proved  to  be  the  Draid 
90,  Oaptain  Cartant.  She  waa  much  cut  im,  and  the  oflloial 
report  of  her  oommaoder,  made  her  loaa  six  billed,  and  twtirty. 
dJt  wounded.  Of  the  latter,  five  died  aoon  after  the  action,  and 
•moog  the  wounded  waa  her  commander.  The  Druid  waa 
unable  to  puraua  the  voyage,  and  returned  to  Bnglind. 

The  RtMgh  had  three  men  killed  and  wounded  in  the  a»> 
Pfament,  and  otherwiae  auatained  but  little  injury. 

On  IIm  14th  of  June  of  thia  year,  Ckmgreaa  firrt  adopted  tlw 
mn  and  atripea  aa  the  national  flag. 


mmi 


mmmmmm 


n 


RATAL     BIITOIT. 


Plll^ 


CHAPn'lll  VIH. 


Tbi  yMT  1778  opannd  with  ^iW  mora  nhaerfjl  prapaota 
for  thn  gro»t  c«'j«o  of  Amorkan  liMk-pfsiiclnnas ;  the  c«ptur« 
of  Burgoyoe,  utd  the  gruwiag  d«ct>nt«nt«  in  Kurope,  nnukt- 
ing  m  Pranch  allianoe,  and  a  Europaan  war,  dfiily  more  pro- 
bablo.  Th«>w  «vcnt«,  in  truth,  §000  after  folbvrcd  ;  imd  irom 
that  moiwnt,  the  eutiro  poJicy  of  Ihrs  UniUxi  f  tatwi,  aa  reUled 
to  ita  inarion,  waa  chaniitxl-  J'rnvioualy  to  thi«  great  event, 
CioogroH  had  often  turned  ita  attention  lowank  the  ner/i^ily 
of  building  or  purchaaing  veaMla  of  force,  in  order  to  counteract 
the  abaoluto  control  which  th«  enemy  iKMnoaaod,  in  the  iriune- 
diate  walera  of  the  country,  and  which  oven  Miporwded  the 
n«M«iity  of  ordinary  blockadea,  aa  two  or  thrw  heavy  frintea 
had  been  able,  at  any  time  ainoe  the  commencement  of  tbo 
ttniggle,  to  command  the  entraoca  ot  the  diffinent  bays  and 
•ouDoa. 

The  French  Heet,  aoon  after  the  commoooemant  of  ho^U< 
U«a  between  Bogland  and  France,  appeanHt  in  the  American 
•MM,  an<i,  in  a  meaaure,  relieved  Iho  country  from  a  apeoiea 
of  warftiw  that  w«a  narticularly  oppressivo  to  a  nation  that 
waa  then  ao  poor,  and  which  waa  expoaed  00  eo  great  an  ei« 
iMit  of  oooat, 

Aa  the  occupation  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  preventsd 
wreral  of  the  new  iVigataa  (Vom  getting  to  sea  at  all,  or  oo<». 
■ionod  their  early  lou,  CongreM  had  endeavoured  to  repair 
tbeM  daficieociea  bv  oauaing  other  veaaela  to  be  built,  or  pur- 
ohawd,  at  pointa  where  they  would  be  out  of  danger  (torn  anjr 
■tmilar  roiafortuoea.  Among  theae  ahipa  were  the  Allianoe  88, 
Coo&deracy  83,  Deano  32.  (aftorwarda  called  the  H*gt^) 
and  Queea  of  Praiux  38,  all  tngate-built,  aiMl  the  Ranger, 
Qatea,  and  Saratoga  aloopa  of  war.  To  theae  were  added  a 
few  olher  veaaela,  that  were  either  bought  or  borrowed  m 
Ekirope.  The  Allianoe,  which,  aa  her  name  indicatea,  waa 
launebed  aboot  the  tine  the  treaty  waa  made  with  France,  waa 
tb^  favourite  abip  of  the  American  navy,  and  it  might  be  addad, 
of  the  American  nation,  during  »he  war  of  the  Revolution  { 
Ailing  aome  auch  apace  in  the  public  mind,  aa  haa  ainoe  been 
occupied  by  her  more  aslebrated  aucooaor,  the  Cooatituttoii. 


(tim 


ifm] 


NAtAI.    NISTOlTi 


98 


wu  a  bwutlAtl  and  an  «ioMdm||ly  tk»t  »hip,  but,  h  wiil 
ba  awn  in  Iha  Mquml.  waa  ramlorrU  Iom  «ilfi»i«?ni  than  ikim 
might  (Xhiuwim)  havft  proviMJ,  by  ()io  miolako  d  plaang  har 
undnr  ihn  .,oninjnji«l  «>f  «  Fraiuli  otHonr,  with  n  vi«w  to  pay  a 
oomplimenl  to  tho  naw  aJlimi  of  Iha  rapublM.  Thia  unfbrtuoaM 
aaleotion  produoad  muliniiM,  much  diarontent  anwng  tho  offl. 
oara,  and,  in  tho  mid,  uravo  irniKuUrttitM.  Th«  Ailiaiit4)  waa 
built  at  Ualiabury,  in  Ma«Mihua(itu,  a  plm-n  that  HnunMl  aa  • 
building  ttation,  own  in  ilw  •xvnutrntnih  iwntury. 

Tho  naval  u|M)rati<>na  of  tho  yoar  upon  with  a  gallant  little 
Mploit,  achiovnd  by  tho  Uiiilod  8tat«a  aloop  l'roY(d««if«,  la, 
Captain  Ratbburaa.  Thia  veaaai  carried  only  four-pounders, 
tod,  at  the  time,  ia  aaid  to  havn  had  a  nnm  of  but  tifly  men 
on  board.  NotwithaUnding  thi«  trifling  fof»*,  Capuin  Hath- 
burne  mado  a  diMcont  on  the  Uland  of  N«w  Providence,  at  the 
head  of  twenty.tivo  ineii.  lio  waa  joined  by  a  few  Amenoan 
priaonen,  laaa  tiian  thirty,  it  ia  Mtid.  and,  while  a  privateer  of 
aixteon  guna,  with  a  crew  of  near  fifty  men,  Uy  in  lh«  harbour, 
ho  aeirAd  the  forta,  got  poMMtaaion  ot  the  tUmm,  and  etJiwtuaUy 
obtained  command  of  the  plac» .  All  ib«  v«iii«l«  in  port,  six  in 
number,  (bll  into  hia  handa,  and  an  attempt  of  (he  armed  popu- 
lation to  overpower  him,  waa  auppreaaed,  by  a  menace  to  bum 
the  town.  A  Britiah  aloop  of  war  appnarod  off  the  harbour, 
while  the  Americana  were  in  poeaeaaion,  but,  ascertaining  thU 
•n  enemy  waa  occupying  the  worka,  ahe  retired,  after  having 
been  firod  on.  The  following  day,  the  people  aaaerabled  ia 
auch  force,  aa  aerioualy  to  thrvaten  the  aaiety  of  hia  party  and 
veaael,  and  Captain  Rathbume  cauaod  the  guna  of  the  fort  to 
be  apiked,  removed  all  the  ammunition  and  amalUrma,  burned 
two  of  hia  priiea,  and  aailed  with  the  remainder,  without  leaving 
•  man  behind  him.  In  thia  daring  little  enterpriae,  the  Am** 
rioana  held  the  place  two  entire  daya. 

Captain  John  Barry,  whoae  apinted  action  oft'  the  eapea  of 
Virgiata,  in  the  Leiingtoa  14,  baa  been  mentioned,  and  whoae 
otptura  of  t.iio  Edward,  on  that  oooaaion,  ia  worthy  of  note,  as 
having  been  the  Drat  of  any  veaael  of  war,  that  waa  ever  mads 
by  a  regular  American  oruiaer  in  battle,  waa  placed  on  the 
ragulaled  list  of  October,  1776,  aa  the  aeventh  captain,  and 
^p^led  to  the  command  of  the  Effingham  38,  then  building 
•t  Philadelphia.  The  Effingham  waa  one  of  the  veaaels  that 
had  been  taken  up  the  Delaware,  to  eaeape  flrom  the  Britiah 
anny  j  and  thia  gallant  officer,  wearied  with  a  life  of  inactivity, 
pUnasd  an  ucpwlitioa  down  the  atisun,  in  tlw  hope  of  striking 


f' 


iMMaiataaMHM 


tUSDOkf 


miMiiii 


mmmmm 


74 


NATAL     71iSV0n\» 


[1T78 


a  blow  at  soiiie  of  the  enemy's  vessels  ancliored  off,  or  below 
the  town.  Manning  four  boal  %  he  pulled  down  with  the  tide. 
Some  alarm  was  given  when  upposite  the  town,  but  dashing 
ahead,  the  barges  got  past  wilh-  it  injury.  Off  Port  Penn  lay 
an  enemy's  schooner  of  ten  is,  and  four  transports,  with 
freight  for  the  British  army.  V  iie  schooner  was  boarded  and 
carried,  without  loss,  and  the  'ffvnsports  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Am^^icans  also.  Two  cru  &  «  appearing  soon  after  in  the 
river,  however,  Captain  Barr  f  siirtroyed  his  prizes,  and  es- 
caped by  land,  without  losing  »  ima. 

Following  the  order  of  time,  «  e  now  return  to  the  movements 
of  the  two  ships  under  the  command  of  Captain  Thompson, 
the  Raleigh  and  the  Alfred.  Afer  taking  ia  military  stores 
in  France,  those  vesseb  sailed  for  America,  making  a  circuit 
to  the  -outhward,  in  or*jr  to  avoid  the  enemy's  vessels  «>f 
force,  and  to  pick  up  a  few  inisses  by  the  way.  They  saUed 
from  I'Orient  in  February,  1778,  and  on  the  9th  of  March, 
were  chased  by  the  British  ships  <Vriadne  and  Ceres,  which 
succeeded  in  geiticg  alongside  of  tLe  Alfred,  and  engagmg  her, 
while  the  Raleigh  was  at  a  distance.  Believinga  contMt 
fruitless,  after  exchanging  a  few  broadsides,  the  Alfred  struck ; 
but  the  Raldgh,  though  hard  pretwed,  in  the  chase  that  sue- 
ceeded,  mad?  her  escape.  Captain  Thompson  was  blamed  m 
the  journals  of  Uie  day,  for  not  aiding  his  consort  on  this  occa- 
sion ;  arid  he  appears  to  have  beeo  superseded  in  the  command 
of  his  ship,  to  await  the  result  of  a  trial. 

Among  the  frigates  ordered  by  the  act  of  1776,  was  one 
called  the  Virginia  28,  which  hod  been  laid  down  in  Marylaiid. 
To  this  vessel  was  assigned  Captain  James  Nicholson,  the 
senior  captain  on  the  list,  an  officer  wito  had  already  mom- 
fested  conduct  and  spirit  in  an  affair  with  one  of  the  enemy  s 
tondera  off  Annapolu,  while  serving  in  the  local  marme  of 
Maryland.'  The  great  embarrassment  which  attended  most  of 
the  public  measures  of  the  day,  and  a  vigilant  blockadei  pre- 
vented the  Virginia  from  getting  to  sea,  untri  the  spring  oi  this 
year,  when  having  received  her  crew  aad  equipments,  she 
made  the  attempt  on  the  80th  of  March. 

The  frigate  appears  to  have  iWlowed  another  vewel  down 
the  Chesapeake,  under  the  impreswon  that  the  beat  pitot  of  the 
bay  was  In  charge  of  her.  About  three  in  the  mornin«,  how- 
ever,  she  struck  on  th^  middle  gtiHuid,  over  which  she  beat 
with  the  loss  of  her  rudder.  The  shij)  was  immediately  an- 
cbored.    Day  discovered  two  Biglish  Vessels  pf  war  at  no 


[1778 


17TR] 


NATAL   HISTGRT. 


75 


great  distance,  when  Captain  Nicholson  got'  ashore  with  his 
papers,  and  the  ship  was  talcen  possession  of  by  tlie  enemy. 
An  inquiry,  instituted  by  Congress,  acquitted  Captain  Nichol- 
son of  blame. 

Leaving  the  ocean,  we  will  again  turn  our  atU;ntion  to  the 
proceedings  of  the  enemy  in  the  Delaware.  Early  in  May,  an 
oxpediiion  left  Philadelphia,  under  tiio  command  of  Major  Mait- 
land,  and  ascendsd  that  river  with  a  view  to  destroy  the  Ame* 
rican  shipping,  which  h&'*  been  carried  up  it  to  escape  the  in* 
vadiug  and  successful  army  of  the  enemy.  The  force  consistewl 
of  the  schooners  Viper  and  Pembroke ;  the  Huskir,  Comwallis, 
Ferret,  and  Philadelphia  galleys;  four  gun-boats,  and  eighteen 
flat-boat't,  under  the  orders  of  Captain  Ifenry  of  the  navy.  The 
2d  battalion  of  the  li^ht-lnfantry,  and  two  field-pieces  composed 
the  troops.  Ascending  the  stream  to  a  point  aoove  Bristol,  the 
troops  landed,  without  o(^>^ition.  There  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  any  fcroe  to  oppose  the  British  on  this  occasion,  or,  > 
if  any,  one  of  so  little  moment,  as  to  put  a  serious  contest  out 
of  the  question.  Tlio  Washington  82,  and  Bffinaham  28, 
both  of  which  had  been  built  at  Philadelphia,  but  had  never 
got  to  sea,  were  burned.  These  ships  had  not  yet  revived 
their  armaments. 

About  this  time  the  celebrated  Pkul  Jones,  whose  conduct 
as  a  lieutmant  in  the  Al&ed,  and  in  coimnand  of  that  ship,  as 
well  as  in  that  of  the  Proviiience  12,  had  attracted  tRj^h  atten- 
tion, appeared  in  the  European  seas  in  command  of  the  Ranger 
16.  So  cautious  had  tiie  .^Imerican  government  become,  in 
consequence  of  the  British  remonstvusoes,  that  orders  were 
given  to  the  Ranger  to  cunoeal  her  armament  while  m  Prance. 

After  gmng  into  Brent  to  refit,  Captain  Joqes  sailed  from 
port  09  tfis  lOtb  of  April,  1778,  on  a  cruise  in  the  Irish  Chan- 
cel. As  the  Ranger  paned  alons  the  coast,  she  nwde  several 
pnmhMDA  g^&ug  at  h^^  as  Whttehaveii,  '^ptain  Joom  tte- 
termtaed,  on  the  17ti>t  to  make  an  attend  tc»  bam  the  colliers 
that  wem  crswdMl  in  that  narrow  pott.  Tbs  wsather,  bow- 
QvcT,  preveDted  the  teeestion  oftfiis  project,  and  ^  ship  pro- 
ceeded aa  high  as  0IeiitiB«  bay,  on  the  o(»^  of  Scotland,  where 
she  chased  a  mnrenie  veaael  without  sdooeea. 

Qttittiiag  the  8eottirii'0oaat,tiie  Ranger  next  enmei'i  to  tre- 
bfid,  and  amvad  of  CarricUMrgtM,  where  she  was  boarded  by 
some  fidhemMB.  PMm  lAtm  men  Osptain  JkiMM  aaewrtaiBed 
that  the  Drake  aoop  of  war,  Ctniaia  J3tird«Bi,«  i^sse!  of  a 
fbrce  about  «qual  to  tb«t  of  Ae  Ra^er,  lay  anchored  in  the 


M  < 


n 


NAVAL    HISTOET. 


tins. 


roadt,  and  ho  immoiliately  conceived  a  plan  to  run  in  and  taka 
her.  PreparatioDfl  were  accordingly  nuufe  to  attonpt  the  en* 
terpriae  aa  aooa  as  it  was  dark. 

ft  bier  Tresh  in  the  night,  but  when  the  proper  hour  had 
arrived,  the  Ranger  etood  for  the  roads,  having  accurately  ob- 
tained the  bearings  of  her  enemy.  The  orders  of  Captain 
Jones  were  to  overlay  the  cable  of  the  Drake,  and  to  bring  up 
on  her  bows,  where  he  intended  to  secure  his  own  ship,  and 
abide  the  result.  By  some  mistake,  the  anchor  was  not  let  go 
in  season,  and  instead  of  fetching  up  in  the  desired  position, 
the  Ranger  could  Lot  be  checked  until  she  had  drilled  on  the 
quarter  of  the  Drake,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  cable's  length. 
Peroeiving  that  his  object  was  defeated.  Captain  Jones  ordered 
the  cable  to  be  cut,  when  the  ship  drifted  astern,  and,  making 
sail,  aba  hauled  by  the  vind  as  soon  aa  possible.  The  gale 
inoreaaing,  it  waa  with  great  difficulty  that  the  Ranger  wea* 
thered  the  land,  and  regained  the  channel. 

Captain  Jones  now  Mtiood  over  to  the  English  coast,  and  be 
lieving  the  time  more  favourable,  he  attempted  to  execute  hil 
former  design  on  the  shipping  of  Whitehaven.  Two  parties 
lauded  in  the  night ;  the  forts  were  seixed  and  the  guns  were 
spiked  ;  the  few  look-outs  that  were  in  the  works  being  con- 
fined. In  eflMing  this  dutv,  Captain  Jones  wtt  foremost  in 
person,  for,  having  once  saued  out  of  the  port,  he  was  familiar 
with  the  place.  An  foddoat  common  to  both  the  parties  into 
which  tlie  expedition  had  hem  divided,  came  near  defeating 
the  enterprise  in  the  outset.  They  had  brought  candles  in 
lanterns,  as  lights  and  torohes,  and,  now  that  they  were  wanted 
for  the  latter  purpos^  it  was  found  that  they  were  all  con- 
sumed. As  the  day  was  appearing,  the  party  under  Mr.  Wal- 
linf^rd,  ooe  of  the  lieutenante,  took  to  its  boat  without  eflbct- 
ing  aa;^  thin«,  white  Captain  Jones  sent  to  a  drtaohed  buildiog 
and  obtained  a  candle.  He  boarded  a  kige  ship,  kindled  « 
fire  in  her  ateerage,  and  by  facing  a  balrrri  <^  tar  over!  the 
spot,  soon  had  the  vessd  in  flaraea.  The  ^de  being  oat,'th>s 
snip  lay  in  the  midst  of  more  than  a  handled  <4hen,  bt^  and 
dry,  and  Captain  Jones  flattered  hiaasrif  wiOi  the  hope  of  sig- 
nally revenging  the  depredaliona  that  the  eaemy  had  so  (netj 
commitled  on  the  AmnrieBn  oont.  But,  by  thia  time,  the  alarm 
waa  efibctualiy  siveo,  and  the  eatne  po|Milatbn  appeared  on 
ths  adjaee&t  hi|^  ground,  «r  i»ere  stsen  rushing  in  waahen  to- 
wards  the  ahi;)picg.  The  latter  wwe  easily  driven  baefc  hy  • 
show  offeree ;  and  remaining  a  aufBdent  Ume,  as  he  thoaprt, 


[1T7B. 


177&] 


NATAL     HIBTORT. 


T7 


to  make  sure  of  an  extensive  conflagration,  Captain  Jones  took 
to  bis  boats  and  pulled  towards  his  ship.  Some  guns  were  flred 
on  the  retiring  boats  without  eflect ;  but  the  people  o(  thn  place 
succeeded  in  extinguishing  the  flamea  before  the  mis  ^hief  be- 
came very  extensive. 

Thj  hardihood,  as  well  as  the  nature  of  this  attempt,  pro- 
duced a  great  alarm  along  the  whole  English  coast ;  and  from 
that  hour,  even  to  this,  the  name  of  Jones,  in  the  midst  of  the 
people  of  Whitehaven,  is  associated  with  audacity,  destruction, 
and  danger. 

While  cruising,  with  the  utmost  boldness,  ra  it  might  be  in 
the  ver^  heart  of  the  British  waters,  with  the  coasts  of  the 
three  kmgdoms  frequently  in  view  at  the  same  moment,  Cap- 
tain Jones,  who  was  a  native  of  the  country,  decided  to  make 
an  attempt  toseiie  the  Earl  of  Selkirk,  who  had  a  seat  on  St. 
Mary's  Isle,  near  the  point  where  the  Dee  flows  into  the  chan- 
nel. A  party  landed,  and  got  possession  of  the  house,  but  its 
master  was  absent.  The  officer  in  command  of  the  boats  so 
iar  forgot  himself  as  to  bring  away  a  quantity  of  the  familv 
plate,  alHiough  no  other  injury  was  dxme,  or  •uiy  insult  oflbred. 
This  plate,  the  value  of  which  did  not  exceed  a  hundred  pounds, 
was  subaequently  purchased  of  the  crew  by  Captain  Jones,  and 
returned  to  Lady  Selkirk,  with  a  letter  expressive  of  his  regret* 
at  the  occurrence. 

After  the  landing  mentioned,  the  Ranger  once  more  steered 
towards  Ireland,  CStptain  Jones  still  keeping  in  view  bis  design 
on  the  Drake,  and  arrived  off  Carrickfei^  *ffuo,  oa  the  34Ui. 
The  oommander  of  the  latter  ship'  tent  out  an  <^Scer,  in  iMW 
of  his  boats,  to  ascertain  the  character  of  (he  stranger.  By 
maans  tif  skilfiil  handling,  the  Rwager  was  kept  end-on  to  the 
boat,  and  as  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  latter  coald  faoerely  sea 
the  ship's  Btem,  although  provided  with  a  giass,  he  suwre*) 
himaeit  to  be  daooyed  abagude,  and  was  tMceu.  From  Uie 
priaoaem.  Captain  Joaes  leuned  ^t  ioteUigenoe  of  his  de* 
aoents  on  Wutehavtta  and  St.  Mary's  Ue  had  reaped  Belfast, 
and  OM  thepeoi^a  of  the  Dndte  had  wdghed  tKe  anchor  be 
had  loat  in  his  attnept  oo  that  s'iAp. 

Undnr  tiwsa  «kwiOMtanoes,  Gaptain.  Jones,  belisvad  that  tlw 
commaiiAf  of  the  JEkraiw  wonfd  not  loi^  d^  oomiog  out  in 
sMWokof  biab«Bt;  aaespdctatkHi  thatwni.  shortly  realised, 
by  Iha  wffmawaot  t/t  Urn  EngKah  abip  under  ««y.  Tlte 
lUmglsr  now  filled  and  stood  off  the  Umd,  with  a  view  to  draw 
linr  cBsmy  more  iaio  tSM  channe),  where  die  by  to,  ia  waking 


mmmmr 


'mmm 


'I* m^mr 


78 


NATAL     HIBTOET. 


[1778. 


for  the  latter  to  come  on.  Several  small  vessels  accompanied 
the  Drake,  to  witness  the  combat,  and  many  volunteers  had 
gone  on  k»ard  her,  to  assist  in  capturing  the  Aitierican  pri- 
vateer, as  it  was  the  fashion  of  the  day  to  term  the  vessels  of 
the  young  republic.  The  tide  being  unfavourable,  the  Drake 
worked  out  of  the  roads  slowly,  and  night  was  approi  :hing 
before  she  drew  near  the  Ranger. 

The  Drake,  when  she  got  sufficiently  nigh,  hailed,  and  re- 
ceived the  name  of  her  antagonist,  by  way  of  challenge,  with 
a  request  to  come  on.  As  the  two  ships  were  standing  on,  the 
Drake  a  little  to  leeward  and  astern,  the  Rangt^f  put  her  helm 
up,  a  manoeuvre  that  the  enemy  imitated,  and  the  formei  gave 
the  first  broadside,  firing  as  her  guns  bore.  The  wind  ad- 
mitted  of  but  few  changes,  but  the  battle  was  fought  running 
free,  under  easy  canvass.  It  lasted  an  hour  and  four  minutes, 
when  the  Lrake  called  for  quarter,  her  ensign  being  already 
down. 

The  English  ahip  was  much  cut  up,  both  in  her  hull  and 
aloft,  and  Captain  Jones  computed  her  loss  at  about  forty  men. 
Her  captain  and  lieutenant  were  both  desperately  wounded, 
and  died  shortly  after  the  engagement.  The  Ranger  suflfered 
much  less,  having  Lieutenant  Wallingford  and  one  man  killed, 
and  six  wounded.  The  Dr8.ke  was  not  only  a  heavier  ship, 
but  she  had  a  much  stronger  crew  than  her  antagonist.  She 
had  also  two  g«ins  the  most. 

After  securing  her  prize  and  repairing  damages,  the  Ranger 
went  round  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  shaped  her  course  for 
Brest.  She  was  chnsed  repeatedly,  but  arrived  safely  at  her 
port  with  the  Drake,  on  the  8th  of  May. 

Mr.  Silas  Talbot,  of  Rhode  Island,  who  had  been  a  seaman 
in  his  youth,  bad  taken  service  in  the  army,  and,  October  10th, 
1777,  he  had  been  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  Major,  to  reward 
him  for  a  spirited  attempt  to  set  fire  to  one  of  the  enemy's 
cruisers  in  the  Hudcon.  In  the  autumn  of  the  preseat  war 
(1778),  Major  Talbot  headed  aootber  expedition:  against  the  Brit- 
ish schooner  Pigot  8,  then  lying  in  the  eastern  passage  between 
Rhode  Island  and  the  main  land,  ic  «i  email  sloop  that  bad  two 
light  guns,  and  which  was  manned  by  60  volunteers.  The 
Pigot  had  46  men,  and  one  heavy  gun  in  her  bows,  beside* 
the  rest  of  her  armsDient.  K«r  oominander  ehowod  grant 
bravery^  aetuallv  fighting  alone  oa  deck,  in  h»  shirt,  wbeei 
every  man  of  hw  crew  had  mo  below.  Major  Talbot  earned 
the  soJKxmer  without  loss,  and  fo?  his  conduct  sod  fsUsAlrjr 


•Pipf" 


•^""""  ""— ~"^"~         .     J,     — ^— —  -     ■■       J,  I       n  I  _       _ 


1778.] 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


79 


WM  promoted  to  be  a  Lieutenant-Colonel.  The  foUoving  year 
thia  officer  was  transferred  to  the  navy,  Congress  passing  an 
especial  resolution  to  that  effect,  with  directions  to  the  Marine 
Committee  to  give  him  a  ship  on  the  finit  occasion.  It  does 
not  appear,  however,  that  it  was  in  the  power  of  the  commit- 
tee, at  that  period  of  the  war,  to  appoint  Captain  Taibot  to  a 
government  vessel,  ond  he  is  believed  to  have  ser/ed.  subse- 
quently, in  a  private  armed  ship. 

In  consequence  of  the  investigation  connected  with  th«^  loan 
of  the  Alfred,  Captain  Thompson  was  relieved  from  the  com- 
mand of  6  Raleigh  32,  as  hat.  been  said  already,  and  that 
ship  was  given  to  Captain  Barry.  Under  the  orders  of  her 
new  commander,  the  Raleigh  sailed  from  Boston  ob  the  26th 
of  September,  at  six  in  the  morning,  having  a  brig  and  a  sloop 
under  convov.  The  wind  was  fresh  ct  N.  W.,  and  the  frigate 
ran  off  N.  E.  At  twelve,  two  strange  sail  were  seen  to  tee- 
ward,  distant  fifteoi  or  sixtet^n  miles.  Orders  were  given  to 
the  convoy  to  haul  nearer  t<j  the  wind,  and  to  crowd  all  the 
sail  it  could  carry,  the  strangers  in  chase.  AAer  dark  the 
Rateigh  loist  sight  of  the  enemy,  and  the  wind  became  light 
and  variable,  llie  Raleigh  now  cleared  for  action,  and  kept 
her  people  at  quarters  all  night,  having  tacked  towards  tha 
land.  In  the  morning  it  proved  to  be  biay,  and  the  sit  ^ngera 
were  not  to  be  seen.  The  Raleigh  was  still  standing  towards 
the  land,  which  she  ultortly  ai^r  mode  ahead,  quite  near. 
About  noon,  the  haze  clearing  away,  the  enemy  were  seen  in 
the  southern  board,  and  to  windward,  crowding  wil  in  chase. 
The  weather  h^umo  thick  again,  and  the  Raleigh  lost  sight 
(tf  her  two  pursuers,  when  she  hauled  off  to  the  eastwaid. 
That  rj^t  no  more  was  seen  of  the  enemv,  and  at  daylight 
Captain  Barry  took  in  every  thing,  with  a  vier/  to  oonoeat  the 
pontion  of  the  ship,  which  was  permitted  to  drift  under  b»«e 
pedes.  Finding  nothing  visiUe  at  6,  A.  M.,  the  Raleiah 
crowded  sail  once  nmre,  and  siiood  S.  E.  by  8.  But  at  balf 
^.ct  9,  the  two  ships  were  again  discovenJ  astern,  and  in 
,  'S»<,u.  The  Raleish  now  hauled  ckM  upon  a  wind,  b<«ding 
tL  W.,  with  her  larbowrd  tacka  aboard.  The  enemy  also 
ma»  to  the  wind,  all  tbras  vesaets  carrying  oard  with  a 
Aaggaring  breesse. ,  Tbe  Raleigh  now  &ir[y  outsuled  the 
Mrangera,  raaning  11  knoto  3  fiuhcnt,  oo  adnuraed  boiHiac. 

UafertuntieSy,  at  noon  the  wind  modentad,  when  tka  iaad- 
iog  vonel  of  the  enemy  overhacled  dbe  Rnlei^  qnita  JSut,  and 
vfw  the  «hip  aatem  Mi  way  witb  hr*.    At  4,  P.  M.,  tlw 


it'-iiOTMiwiiiliigiri 


iiiaiiaiifiiiiiiiiiiii 


uiiii 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


177& 


Raleigh  tacked  to  the  westward,  with  a  view  to  discover  the 
foKt  of  the  leading  vessel  of  the  enemy ;  and  about  the  seme 
tinwi  she  made  sevornl  low  islands,  the  names  of  which  were 
ml  known.     At  6,  P.  M.,  the  leading  veseel  of  the  enemy 
havmg  nearly  closed,  the  Raleigh  edged  away  and  croaaed  her 
fore  toot,  brailing  her  miiizen,  and  taking  it.  her  staysails. 
Th6  enemy  showed  a  battery  of  14  guns  of  a  side,  including 
both  decks,  and  set  St.  George's  ensign.    In  passing,  tho 
Kaleigh  delivered  her  broadside,  which  was  returned,  when 
the  stranger  came  up  under  the  lee  quarter  of  the  American 
ship,  an<l  the  action  becamo  steady  and  general.     At  tho 
second  tire,  the  Raleigh  unfortunately  lost  her  fore-topmast 
ond  mizzen  top-gailont-mast,  which  gave  the  enemy  a  vast 
advantage  in  manoeuvriug  throushuut  the  remaicdor  of  the 
affair.    Finding  the  broadside  of  the  Raleigh  getting  to  be  too 
hot  for  him,  the  enemy  aoon  shot  ahead,  and,  for  a  short  time, 
while  tho  people  of  the  former  ship  were  cletring  the  wreck, 
he  engaged  to  windward,  and  at  a  distance.    Ere  long,  how- 
ever,  the  English  vessel  edged  away  and  attempted  to  rake  the 
Rak^  when  Captain  Barry  bore  up,  and  bringing  the  ships 
alongside  each  other,  he  endeavoured  to  board,  a  stjap  that  the 
crther,  favoured  by  all  his  canvass,  and  his  superiority  of  sail* 
ing  in  a  light  breexe,  lasily  avoided.     By  this  time,  the  second 
ship  had  got  so  near  as  to  render  it  certain  she  would  very 
800Q  close,  and,  escape  by  flight  being  out  of  the  question  in 
the  crippled  condition  of  his  ship.  Captain  Barry  called  a  coun- 
oil  of  his  officers.    It  waa  determined  to  make  an  attempt  to 
run  the  frigate  ashore,  the  land  being  then  withm  a  few  miles. 
The  Raleigh  accordingly  wore  round,  and  stood  for  the  island* 
already  mentioned,  her  antagonist  following  her  in  the  inoat 
gallant  manner,  both  ships  maintaining  thd  action  with  spirit. 
About  midnight,  however,  the  enemy  hauled  off,  and  left  the 
Raleigh  to  pursue  her  course  towards  the  land.    The  engage* 
ment  had  lasted  seven  hours,  much  of  the  time  in  close  adion, 
and  both  vessels  had  suflered  materially,  the  Raleigh  in  parti- 
cular, in  her  spars,  rigging,  and  sails.    The  darkness,  soon 
after,  concealing  his  ship,  Captain  Barrjr  had  some  hq)e«  of 
gotUng  off  among  ♦  ^  islands,  and  was  m  tfe  act  of  bending 
new  sails  ibr  that  purpoae,  when  the  nnemy's  vessels  again 
came  in  sight,  otesing  fast.    TTie  Raleigh  immediately  opened 
a  laisk  fire  from  her  stern  guns,  and  every  human  effort  wrw 
made  to  force  the  ship  towards  the  land.    The  enem^,  how- 
ever, easily  cloesd  agafn,  and  opened  a  heavy  fire,  whush  wa« 


1778. 


IfMI 


NATAL    RIITORT. 


01 


rtlurMd  by  the  Rabigh  until  ih«  grounde*!,  when  the  lirmat 
of  the  floemy'a  «hip<i  imrrMHliatoly  haulwJ  off,  to  nvoij  n 
•imilar  cabmity,  and,  goioing  n  aafe  diatanon,  both  veaael* 
coiilsnued  their  firo,  from  poailiona  th«y  hod  taken  on  the 
Rabigh'a  quarter.  Captain  Barry,  flndina  that  the  iaiand 
waa  rocky,  and  that  it  might  he  defended,  deU^miined  t.i  land, 
and  to  hurt:  hia  ahip ;  a  project  that  waa  rondrn-d  prat'lioablo 
by  the  fait  that  thr  oncmy  had  cmmnl  flr.njf,  and  anchored  at 
the  diatanco  of  about  «  mile.  A  large  party  of  nwn  got  on 
•hore,  and  the  boata  were  about  to  return  for  the  remainder, 
when  It  waa  diacovnrnd  that,  by  the  treachery  of  a  |)Gtty  ofJicer, 
the  ahip  had  aurran«lerad. 

Th«  ofliccra  and  men  on  th«  iatand  eaoapod,  but  the  vcaael 
WM  got  off  and  daced  in  the  Britiah  navy.  The  two  ahipa 
that  took  the  Kaleigh  were  the  Experiment  50,  Captain  Wal- 
lace, and  the  Unicom  88.  The  latter  mounted  28  guna,  and 
waa  the  ahin  that  engaged  the  Raleigh  *>  cloaely,  ao  long,  and 
■0  obatinately.  She  waa  much  cut  up,  losing  her  maata  after 
the  action,  and  had  10  men  killod,  Iwsidoa  many  wounded. 
The  Americana  had  85  men  killed  and  wounded  in  the  ooune 
ofthowhotoaflUr. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Tn  year  1779  opena  with  the  departure  of  the  Alliance, 
W,  for  France.  It  haa  already  been  atatod  that  the  command 
or  thia  ahip  had  been  siTen  to  a  Captain  Landaia,  who  was 
•aid  to  be  a  French  officer  of  gallantry  and  merit.  Unforti . 
nately  the  prejudict>«  of  the  aeannen  did  not  anawer  to  the  com- 
plaiaanoe  of  the  MariiM  Committee  in  thia  respect,  and  it  waa 
found  difficult  to  obtain  a  cfBw  willing  to  enliat  under  a  French 
captain.  When  General  Lafkyette  reached  Boston  near  the 
close  of  1778,  in  order  to  embark  in  the  Alliance,  it  -aa  found 
<j«*  tb»  frigate  was  not  yet  manned.  Doaiioua  of  rendering 
MOmsQlves  usefiil  to  their  illustrious  guest,  the  goTemment  ^ 
MasMehusetti  ofliered  to  conqilete  the  ship's  complement  by 
imprMMMot,  an  expedient  that  had  been  ad(»>ted  on  more  than 
OM  oooaaioa  during  tbd  war;  but  the  just-minded  and  benero- 
7 


»fm 


iilHi 


WATAt    HIiTOlT, 


tl71t 


kmt  lAfnyrttB  would  not  eonwnt  to  thn  inwwure.  An«»u«  lu 
aAil  however,  for  \v  wn»  i'n«ni«4tHl  with  imi»«rtiint  Int^rwU. 
iwouran  WM  hod  U)  n  pUn  to  nmn  tho  »hii»,  which.  If  UtM  ob- 
jecti.«i«bl«  on  lh«  uum  of  principle,  wm  «»rc«ly  U-"  w  m 
every  «th«»rpoiut  of  vww.  ,    .        .t  .    ,r  v— 

The  8<jiiKrr«<t  64.  haU  been  wrecked  on  the  ccm  of  N«w 
Knttlnnd.  ""'I  l«rt  of  \m  crew  had  6>und  their  w«y  lo  lUton. 
By  nc-repting  the  profR<r.-.l  •ervice*  of  th««^  "wn.  thow  of  •oiwi 
voluntcer«  frcmi  oinouK  the  pri.oner*.  nnd  {him  of  h  few 
French  tenmen  that  w.rt>  al-o  foun<l  in  ll<«ton  after  the  ile- 
Mrtur«  of  their  fkwt,  a  iwrtley  auinbor  wm  nm>\  m  •"in;Vf!V 
timo  to  enable  the  ahip  to  M  on  the  Uth  of  January.  With 
this  incomplete  and  inixrd  crew.  Ufliyettn  trusted  himielf  on 
the  ocean,  and  the  result  wa-  n«nr  jiiitifying  the  wor.l  fore- 
bodiriM  that  ao  ill-advi«o«l  «  nma-ure  could  have  iiuK>i;e«t«d. 

After  a  teropotuoua  paawgo.  Hi«  Alliance  got  wiihui  two 
days'  run  of  the  Engliah  coaat,  when  her  offlc/jm  and  imwien. 
aeni.  of  the  latter  of  whom  there  were  many  bcjid^ii  (.ifWm 
Uftyette  and  hi«  auile,  received  the  atartlinf  information  that 
a  conspiracy  existed  anK.ng  the  Kngiiah  portion  of  the  crew, 
acme  acvcnty  or  eighty  men  in  all.  to  kill  tho  offkcra,  iciM  the 
v<Mel.and  iarry  ««.  frigate  into  Knuland      With  a  view  to 
encourairo  .uch  acta  of  mutiny,  tho  Dntwh  Parliament  had 
MUMod  a  law  to  rewani  all  them  crewa  that  •hould  run  away 
with  American  nhij*;  and  this  temptation  wai  too  itrong  for 
men  whose  service,  however  voluntary  it  might  be  in  npp««»- 
anoM,  wa«  probably  reluctant,  and  which  had  been  compoilcd 
by  circumstances,  if  not  by  direct  coercion. 

The  plot,  however,  was  betrayed,  and  by  the  spirited  con- 
duct of  tho  officers  and  puweng^rs,  the  ringleaders  were  ar- 

On"  reaching  Br^st,  tho  mutineers  wr-re  placed  In  a  French 
mol,  and  after  some  delay,  wi:re  eichangc<l  as  pnsoncni  of 
war,  without  any  other  punishment ;  the  noble-minded  Lata- 
yetto,  in  porticufar,  feeling  averse  to  treating  foreigners  as  it 
would  have  been  a  duty  to  treat  natives  under  similar  circum- 

*^cS"t*he  18th  of  April,  the  U.  S.  ships  Warren  89,  Captain 
J.  B.  Hopkins,  Queen  of  France  28,  Captain  Olney,  and  Ran- 
oer  18,  Captain  Simpwn,  sailfnl  from  Boston,  in  comMny.  on 
a  cruise ;  Captain  Hopkins  being  the  senior  officer.  W**"  • 
few  days  IVom  port,  these  vesMils  captured  a  Bntiah  pnvatoer 
of  14  guna.  from  the  people  of  which  ihcy  ascertoined  that  a 


L 


■MkMl 


t  IntormU. 

if  Umm  ob- 

r  leM  lo  in 

Ht  of  New 
(o  lioatoa. 
HW  nftonKi 
I  uf  «  few 
U?r  th«  de- 
n  aullitnflnt 
iry.  Wilh 
hunsfllf  (Ml 
woret  fowh 

within  two 
anii  j>tt»a«n- 
Im  (i<noral 
■nuttbit  that 
if  the  crew, 
in,  sciue  the 
th  It  VM)W  to 
harnent  had 
Id  run  away 
»  atrong:  for 
a  in  app«»t- 
in  compollled 

spirited  ccn- 
en  were  ar- 

in  B  French 
prisMncni  of 
ninded  Lafa- 
roigners  a*  it 
nilar  circum- 

1  89,  Captain 
ey, and  Ran- 
company,  on 
er.  When « 
tiah  privatser 
rtaiaedthata 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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lis. 


1-25      1.4    1  1.6 

4 6"     

► 

Sciences 
Corporatioii 


23  WKT  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  H'istorical  IVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


J' 


^778.1 


NAVAL     MI8T0RT. 


83 


•mall  fleet  of  armed  traiuporta  and  atore^hipa  had  jiut  aailed 
from  New  York,  bound  to  Georgia,  with  suppliea  for  the  ene* 
my'a  foroex  in  that  quarter.  The  three  cruisers  crowded  sail 
in  chase,  and  olf  Cape  Henry,  late  in  the  day,  they  had  the 
good  fortune  to  come  up  with  n*ne  sail,  aeven  of  which  they 
captured,  with  a  trifling  reablance.  Favoured  by  the  dark- 
ness, the  two  others  escaped.  The  vessels  taken  proved  to  be 
his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship  Jason,  30,  with  a  crew  of  160 
men ;  the  Maria  armed  ship,  of  10  guns,  and  84  men ;  and  the 

Srivateer  schooner  Hibemia,  8,  with  a  crew  of  49  men.  The 
(aria  had  a  full  cargo  of  flour.  In  addition  to  these  vessels, 
the  brigs  Patriot,  Prince  Frederick,  Bachelor  John,  and  the 
schooner  Chance,  all  laden  with  stores,  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Americans.  Among  the  prisoners  were  twenty*four  Brit* 
ish  officer!,  who  were  on  their  way  to  join  their  regiments  at 
the  south. 

The  command  of  the  Quera  of  France  was  now  given  to 
Captain  Rathbume,  when  that  ship  sailed  on  another  cruise,  in 
company  with  the  Ran^,  and  the  Providence  38,  Captain 
Whipple;  the  latter  b«ng  the  senior  officer.  In  July,  this 
squadron  fell  in  with  a  larfp  fleet  of  English  meichantmeo, 
that  was  convoyed  by  a  ship  of  the  line,  and  some  amtillv 
cruisers,  and  succeeded  in  cutting  out  several  valuable  priii% 
of  which  eip;ht  arrived  at  Boston,  their  estimated  value  exceed* 
in|(  a  million  of  dollars.  In  the  way  of  pecuniary  beneflU, 
this  was  the  most  suooeesAil  cruise  made  in  the  war. 

PauI  Jones  had  obtained  so  much  oelebritv  for  his  eervioes  in 
the  Ranger,  that  he  remained  in  France,  after  the  departure  of 
hie  ship  for  America,  in  the  hope  of  recriving  a  more  import* 
ant  command,  the  inducement,  indeed,  which  had  originally 
brausht  him  to  Burope.  Many  diflerent  mt^ecte  to  this  eAot 
had  been  entertained  and  abandoned,  dunng  the  years  1778 
and  1770,  by  oneof  wbieb  •  dewaent  wu  to  have  been  madft 
on  liverpod,  with  a  body  of  troops  commaiided  by  LafliyeMe. 
AU  of  these  plans,  however,  prodooed  no  lesuhs  i  and  aiUr 
nwny  vexatioas  lepuiaBs  in  bb  upUeations  Ibr  eervkse,  u  mw 
nuigement  was  finally  made  to  give  this  ceMirated  oAoer  enK 
jd6;|nMBt  that  wu  as  m^pAu  m  its  outlines,  as  it  proved  to 
be  UMonvnimt,  not  to  say  unpraotieaMe,  tn'eweotion. 

By  •latter  from  M.  de  Baftine,  tbe  nrinister  of  the  maiinek 
dnted  Fabniuy  4tb,  1770,  it  appenn  tbrt  the  IBng  of  FMMt 


Mailed  to  paidWM  and  pot  at  the  titpoiition  oTGnBtida 
the  Dma,  w  aid  IndiMMn  oredow  M^  thn  lying  at 


k:7 


6k/^     0 


Sv" 


84 


NAVAL    HIBTOBT. 


11779 


rOrient.    To  this  vewwl  were  added  three  more  that  were  pro- 
cured by  means  of  M.  le  Ray  de  Chaumont,  a  banker  of  emi. 
nence  cbnnoctod  with  the  court,  and  who  acted  on  the  occa«on, 
under  the  orders  of  the  French  ministry.    Dr.  Fronkhn,  who, 
as  minister  o/  the  United  States,  was  suppowjd,  in  a  legal  sense, 
to  direct  the  whole  af&ir.  added  the  Alliance  32,  m  virtue  of 
the  authority  that  ho  held  from  Congress.    The  vessels  that 
were  thus  chosen,  formed  a  little  squadron,  compoi«d  of  the 
Duras,  Alliance,  Pallas,  Cerf,  and  Vengeance.    The  Pallas 
was  a  merehantman  bought  for  the  occasion ;  the  Vengeance 
a  small  brig  that  had  also  been  P»«hased  express  v  Tor  tte 
expedition ;  the  Cerf  was  a  fine  large  cutter,  and,  with  the  ex- 
cefSon  of  the  Alliance,  the  only  vewel  of  the  «,^ron  fitted 
for  war.    All  the  ships  but  the  Alliance  ^^«,FteMm^, 
and  they  were  placed  under  the  American  flag,  by  tlie  follow. 

'"Vhe^SSS*  deceived  appointments,  which  wwetorenwin 
valid  for  a  limited  period  only,  from  Dr.  Franklin,  who  had 
held  blank  commissions  to  be  filled  up  at  his  own  di^retton, 
^er  since  his  arrival  in  Europe,  while  the  ve-eU.  were  to 
show  the  American  ensign,  -Bd  no  other.    In  "fort,  the  French 
ships  were  to  be  considered  ai  American  ships,  during  this 
particular  service,  and  when  it  was  terminated,  they  were  to 
Crt  to  their  former  owners.    Thelawsand  prov«ion.of  the 
American  navy  were  to  govern, ««» commanrf  wm  to  be  exe^ 
cised,  and  to  descend,  agreeably  to  its  usages.    Such  officer. 
as  already  had  rank  in  the  American  service,  were  to  take 
TreSffi  of  cour«»,  agreeably  to  the  date,  of  their  respective 
Commissions,  while  the  ww  appoinlments  were  to  be  regulate* 
by  the  new  dates.    By  an  especial  provision,  Captoin  Jone. 
wa.  to  be  commander-in^shief,  a  post  he  would  have  bec« 
entitled  to  fill  by  his  original  commission ;  CaptainLandaui 
of  the  Alliance,  the  only  other  re^uar  captain  >?  thejjujd- 
ron,  being  his  junior.     The  joint  ntfht  of  the  American 
minister  Md  of  the  French  government,  to  instruct  tfie  com- 
modore,  and  to  dir«ct  the  movements  of  the  squadron,  was  also 

"pSirthat  source  the  money  was  mutually  obtdned^ 
which  this  squadron  was  fitted  out,  is  not  actaally  known,  nor 
Jk now  pSbable  that  it  will  ever  be  aocunOely  a«»rtatned. 
Although  the  name  of  the  king  w«i  u-ed,  it «  nc«  im^jjbte 
that  pnvate  adventure  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  enterprise, 
though  it  seems  certain  that  the  government  was  ao  ftr  con- 


'.  \ 


MMMMtekMMii 


[1119 

t  were  pro- 
;er  of  emi- 
e  occasion, 
nklin,  who, 
legal  aenae, 
in  virtue  of 
vessels  that 
osed  of  the 
The  Pallas 
Vengeance 
issly  Tor  the 
with  the  ex- 
ladron  fitted 
^rench-built, 
r  tlw  follow - 

re  to  remain 
in,  who  had 
D  discretion, 
lels  were  to 
t,  the  French 
,  during  this 
they  were  to 
visions  of  the 
IS  to  be  exef' 
3uch  officers 
were  to  take 
eir  respective 
I  be  regulated 
laptain  Jones 
d  have  been 
ptain  Landais 
n  the  squad- 
he  American 
puct  the  com* 
Iron,  was  also 

•  obtained  by 
ly  known,  nor 
y  aaoertatned. 
lot  iropoasibte 
he  enterprMe, 
at  to  Ar  coa- 


17W.1 


NAYAL    RIITOMT. 


85 


oemed  as  to  procure  the  vessels,  and  to  a  certain  extent  to  lend 
the  use  of  ito  stores.  Dr.  Franklin  expressly  states,  that  be 
made  no  advances  for  any  of  the  shins  employed. 

As  every  thing  connortcd  with  this  remarkable  enterprise 
has  mterest,  we  shall  endeavour  ic  give  the  reader  a  better 
idea  of  the  materials,  physical  and  moral,  that  composed  the 
force  of  Commodore  Jones,  in  this  memorable  cruise. 

After  many  vexatious  delays,  the  Duras,  her  name  having 
been  changed  to  that  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  in  oomph, 
ment  to  Dr.  Franklin,  was  eventually  equipped  and  manned. 
Dm  tioas  had  been  given  to  cait  the  proper  number  of  oighteen- 

K 'aiders  for  her  ^  but,  it  being  ascertained  that  there  would  not 
time  to  complete  this  order,  some  old  twelves  were  procured 
m  their  places.    With  this  material  change  in  the  armament, 
the  Richard,  as  she  was  fkmiliariy  called  by  the  seamen,  got 
ready  for  sea.    She  was,  property,  a  single-docked  sbip;  or 
earned  her  armament  on  one  sun-deck,  with  the  usual  addi- 
tions on  the  <{uarter-deck  and  foreoactle)  but  Commodore 
Jones,  with  a  view  to  aUaokirg  some  of  the  larger  convoys  of 
the  enemy,  causer!  twelve  ports  to  be  cut  in  the  gun-room  be- 
low,  where  six  old  oiffhteen-pounders  were  mounted,  it  being 
his  intention  to  fight  all  the  guns  on  one  side,  in  smooth  water. 
The  height  of  the  ship  admitted  of  this  arrangement,  though  it 
was  foreseen  that  these  guns  could  not  be  of  much  use,  except 
in  very  moderate  weather,  or  when  engaging  to  leeward.    Oa 
her  main,  or  proper  gun-deck,  the  ship  had  twenty-eight  ports, 
the  regular  oonstruction  of  an  English  88,  agreeably  to  the  old 
mode  of  rating.    Here  the  twelve-pounders  were  plaoed.    On 
the  quarter-deck  and  forecastle,  were  mounted  eight  nines, 
making  in  all  a  mixed  and  rather  light  armament  of  43  guns. 
If  the  six  eighteens  were  taken  away,  the  foroe  of  the  Bon 
Homme  Richard,  so  fkr  as  her  guns  were  conoemed,  would 
have  been  about  equal  to  that  of  a  89  gun  Oigate.    The  venel 
was  clumsily  constructed,  havinc  been  bailt  many  yean  be- 
fore, and  had  one  of  those  high  old-fkshioned  poops,  that  caused 
the  stems  of  the  ships  launched  in  the^ariy  part  of  the  eigfa. 
teenth  century  to  resemble  towers. 

To  manac;8  a  vessel  of  this  singular  armament  and  doubtf\il 
censtraetkNi,  Commodore  Jones  was  oompelled  to  receive  on 
board  a  crew  of  a  stil!  more  equivocal  oonpoeitton.  A  ftw 
Americans  were  Ibund  to  fill  the  stations  of  eea-oAoers,  on  the 
quarter-deck  and  forward ;  but  the  remainder  of  the  people  woiu 
a  mixture  of  English,  Irish,  Sootch,  Fbrtugueee,  Norwegians, 


% 


^^ 


80 


NAVAL    HI8T0BT. 


11711. 


Oermaiu.  Sp.»aiard»,  Swedw,  Italiana  and  Malayt,  with  occ«- 
SS7*  m7from'on«  of  the  i-lond.  To  keep  .h«  mo  ley 
S^w  in  order,  one  hundred  and  'Wrty-five  sold«r.j^«  p«t^^^ 
board,  under  the  commund  of  some  officers  of  'nfe™' ««;• 
TheS  Boldicr..  or  marine.,  were  recruited  at  /^o"*.  "jj 
were  not  much  lew  singularly  mixed,  a.  to  countries,  than  the 

T;l"h^Tuadron  wa,  about  to  «il,  M.  Le  R-jr  appeared  « 
l'Orient,and  prewnted  bm  aareenient,  or  concordoT  a.  it  wa« 
lermed,Vor  thJ  .ignaturo  of  all  the  commanders.  Jo  this  mn- 
suhir  compact,  which  in  some  respects,  reduced  a  naval  exfeoi 
£n  lo^he'Tvil  of  a  partnership,  Commodore  /on^.-^"^ 
much  of  the  disobedience  omong  his  captains,  of  which  he  sub- 

TS mrtti;. n79,the  ships  sailed  frj^the-^J" 
age  under  the  Isle  of  Groix,  off  I'Onent,  »»»"<»  totjiewuth- 
w?rd.  with  a  few  transports  and  coasters  under  their  ccnvoy. 
Thes^  vessels  were  seen  into  their  several  places  of  destina. 
t  otin  the  Garonne,  Loire,  and  other  port^but  "ot  >;;3««» 
the  commencement  of  that  course  °t  ^^'^^"'^  ,^  °Z^ 
unseamanUke  conduct,  and  neglect,  which  •«  «8"«"y  """^ 
the  whole  career  of  this  ill-assorted  force.    While  lying 
to,  off  the  coast,  the  Alliance,  by  palpable  mtBtmnff^nt, 
gjt  foul  of  the  Richard,  and  lost  her  •"'"""•"^ »  ^To? 
Sway,  at  the  same  time,  the  head,  cut-water,  and  jtb-boom  of 
the  l^r.    It  now  became  necessary  to  return  to  port  to 

*•  While  Meering  northerly  .g«n,  the  Cerf  c«^^  .-^^ 
chase  of  a  strange  sail,  and  parted  company.  The  next  inoni. 
SSVhe  engaged  a  small  Engkh  cruiser  oflf^""'  »j.»f«" 
SSrp  coEof  more  than  an  hour,  obliged  her  to  .tnke,  bu^ 
was^ompelled  to  abandon  her  prize  in  consequence  of »»»  ^I 
J^nce  of  a  y^\  of  superior  Ibrce.  J"*  Cer^  w«th  a  lo« 
ifseveral  men  killed  and  wounded,  made  the  beat  of  her  way 

*°  KW  three  enemy;s  ve«el.  of  war  «*"» !»  "f  »  «J 
the  sqi^adroa,  and  having  the  "^^^  }hey  nndown  mjiitr^ 
abrtS*;  when,  moat  probably  deceived  by  the  height  and  ge- 
neral  appearaii*  of  tile  Richard,  they  hauled  up,  and  by  car- 

'^S5?hSl?thftt'Arn^ond  Pallas  f-ted  company  «Jth 
the  Richard,  leaving  that  ship  with  no  other  consort  than  the 


^ 

1^^ 


k 


aaMMMlMIIIM 


withocct- 
his  motley 
rere  put  0% 
srior  rank. 
i\dom,  and 
«,  than  the 

kppearad  at 
t  as  it  Wds 

Tothissin- 
ival  exi>edi 
08  ascribed 
lich  he  sub- 

the  anchor- 
)  the  aouth- 
eir  ccntoy. 
of  destina- 
not  without 
0  of  otdersi 
ally  marked 
Vhile  lying 
nanagument. 
It;  carryina 
jib-boom  of 
Q  to  port  to 

r  was  sent  in 
le  next  mom- 
is,  and  after  a 
to  strike,  but 
loe  of  the  ap* 
f,  with  a  loss 
It  of  ker  way 

le  in  sight  of 
wn  in  a  line 
eight  and  ge- 
I,  and  by  car- 

K>mpany  with 
osort  than  th(» 


1779.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


87 


Vengeance  brig.  On  rcpching  the  Penmarks,  the  designated 
rendezvous,  tho  misiiing  vessels  did  not  appear.  On  tho  29th, 
the  Vengeance  having  made  the  boat  of  her  way  for  tho  roads 
of  Qroix  by  permission,  t\w  Richard  fell  in  with  two  mo.t)  of 
the  enemy's  cruisers,  which,  after  some  indications  of  an  inten- 
tion to  come  down,  also  ran,  no  doubt  under  the  impression 
that  the  American  frisate  was  a  ship  of  two  decks.  On  this 
occasion  Commodore  Jones  expressed  himself  satisfied  with  the 
spirit  of  his  crew,  thu  people  manifesting  a  strong  wish  to  en- 
gage. On  the  last  of  the  month,  the  Richard  returned  to  the 
roads  from  which  she  had  sailed,  and  anchored.  The  Alliance 
and  Pallas  came  in  also. 

Another  delay  occurred.  A  court  was  convened  to  inquire 
into  tho  conduct  of  Captain  I^andais  of  the  Alliance,  and  of 
other  officers,  in  running  foul  of  the  Richard,  and  both  ships 
underwent  repairs.  Luckily  a  cartel  arrived  from  England, 
it  this  moment,  bringing  with  her  more  than  a  hundrsd  ex- 
changed American  seamen,  most  of  whom  joined  the  squadron. 
This  proved  to  be  a  great  uad  important  accession  to  tho  com- 
position of  the  crew  of  not  only  the  Richard,  but  to  that  of  the 
Alliance,  the  latter  ship  having  boon  but  little  better  off  than 
the  former  in  this  particular.  Among  those  who  Came  from 
the  English  prisons,  was  Mr.  Richara  Dale,  who  had  been 
taken  as  a  master's  mate  in  the  Lexington  1  This  young 
officer  did  not  reach  France  in  the  cartel,  however,  but  had 
previously  escaped  from  Mill  prison  an^i  joined  tho  Richard. 
Commodore  Jones  had  now  become  sensible  of  his  merit,  and 
in  reorganizing  his  crew,  he  had  him  promoted,  Hnd  rated 
him  as  his  first  lieutenant.  Tite  Richard  had  now  nearly  a 
hundred  Americans  in  her,  and,  with  theexcepilon  of  the  com- 
modore himself  and  one  midshipman,  all  her  quarter-deck  sea- 
ofilcers  were  of  the  number.  Many  of  the  petty  officers  too, 
were  Americans.  In  a  letter  written  Au^st  the  11th,  Com- 
modore Jones  states  that  the  crew  of  the  Richard  consisted  of 
880  souls,  including  1S7  marines  or  sddiers. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1779,  the  squadron  mailed  a  second 
time  from  the  roads  of  Oroix,  having  the  French  privateers 
Monsieur  and  Granville  in  company,  and  under  the  orders  of 
Ckmimodore  Jonea.  On  the  16th  a  valuable  prize  was  taken, 
and  some  difBoutties  arising  with  the  commander  of  the  Mon- 
sieur in  conaeouenoe,  the  utter  parted  company  in  the  night 
of  the  10th.  This  was  a  serious  loss  in  the  way  of  force, 
that  ship  having  mounted  no  loss  than  forty  guns.    A  prize 


I 


NAVAL    HIITORT. 


(1771. 


wu  alio  taken  on  tho  9 lit.  On  the  93d,  the  ship*  were  off 
Cape  Clear,  and,  whilo  towing  tho  Kicha.-d's  hend  round  in  a 
calm,  tho  crrw  of  a  boat  manned  by  Etigliihmen,  cut  tho  tow« 
line,  and  oecaped.  Mr.  Cutting  Lunt,  ihe  uilin^-nuutor  of 
the  ship,  manned  another  boat,  and  taking  with  hun  four  aol- 
diera,  ho  pursued  the  fugitives.  A  fog  coming  on,  the  latter 
boat  was  not  able  to  find  the  ships  again,  and  her  people  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Throush  this  desertion  and  its 
immediate  consequences,  the  Richard  lost  twenty  of  her  best 
men. 

The  day  after  the  escape  of  the  boat,  the  Cerf  was  sent 
close  in  to  reconnoitre,  ana  to  look  for  the  missing  people,  and 
owing  to  some  circumstance  that  has  novor  been  explained, 
but  which  does  not  appear  to  have  loll  any  reproach  upon  her 
commander,  this  vessel  never  rejoined  tho  squadron. 

A  gale  of  wind  followed,  during  which  tho  Alliance  and 
Pallas  separated,  and  the  Granville  parted  company  to  convoy  a 
prize,  according  to  orders.  The  separation  of  the  Pallas  is 
explained  by  the  fact  that  she  had  broken  her  tiller ;  but  that 
of  the  Alliance  ctin  only  be  imputed  to  the  unofficerlike,  as 
well  as  unseamanlike,  conduct  of  her  commander.  On  the 
morning  of  the  27th,  the  brig  Vengeance  was  the  only  vessel 
in  company  with  the  commodore. 

On  the  mornins  of  tho  31st  of  August,  the  Bon  Homme 
Richard,  being  off  Cape  Wrath,  captured  a  large  letter  of 
marque  bound  from  London  to  Quebec ;  a  circumstance  that 
proves  the  expedients  to  which  the  English  ship-masters  were 
then  driven  to  avoid  capture,  this  vessel  having  actually  gone 
north-about  to  escape  the  omisers  on  the  ordinary  track. 
While  in  chase  of  tiie  letter  of  marque,  the  Alliance  hove  in 
sight,  having  another  London  ship,  a  Jamaica-man,  in  com- 
pany fka  a  pnze.  Captain  Landais,  of  the  Alliance,  an  oflScer, 
who,  aa  it  has  since  been  ascertained,  had  beeooUiged  to  quit 
tlw  French  navy  on  account  of  a  sin(|ularly  unfortunate  tem- 
per, now  began  to  exhibit  a  disorganistog  and  mutinous  spirit, 
pretending,  as  his  ship  was  the  only  nu  American  vesM  in 
the  squadron,  that  he  was  superior  to  the  orders  of  the  com- 
modore, and  that  he  would  do  as  he  pleased  with  that  frigate. 

In  the  aAemocn  a  strange  sail  was  made,  and  the  Richard 
showed  the  Alliance's  number,  with  an  order  to  chase.  In- 
stead of  obeying  this  signal.  Captain  Landais  wore  and  laid 
the  head  of  his  ship  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that  necessary 
to  execute  the  order.    Several  other  sipiala  »«re  disobeyed 


•  \ 


■^MaaMUaaMM 


tdmmmmm 


(117t. 


but  that 


1779.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


89 


in  an  equally  coatotnptuuuii  mannor,  and  the  control  of  Com- 
modore  Jonea  over  the  movomenta  of  thia  ihip,  which,  on  thr 
whole,  oujjht  to  have  been  tho  moat  efficient  in  the  aquadron, 
may  bo  aaid  to  have  ceaaod. 

t'onmiodore  Jonea  now  ahapd  hia  courae  for  tho  accond 
rendezvous  he  had  appointed,  in  the  hope  of  meeting  the  misa* 
iflg  ahipa.  On  the  3d  of  September,  the  Paltaa  rejoined,  hav. 
jng  captured  nothing.  Ifcitween  thia  date  and  the  13th  of 
September,  tho  iquadron  continued  ita  courae  round  Scotland, 
the  ihipa  aeparating  and  rejoining  conatantly,  and  Captain 
Landaia  aaauming  powera  over  the  prizea,  aa  well  aa  over  hia 
own  voMiol,  that  were  altogether  oppoaed  to  diaciplino,  and  to 
tho  uiagea  of  every  regular  marine.  On  the  laat  day  named, 
the  Cheviot  Hilla  were  viaibls. 

Underatanding  that  a  twenty-gun  ahip  with  two  or  three 
man-of-war  cuttera  were  lying  at  anchor  off  Leith,  in  the  Fr.th 
of  Forth,  Commodore  Jonea  now  planned  a  deacent  on  that 
town.  At  thia  time  the  Alliance  waa  abaent,  and  the  Failoa 
and  Vengeance  having  chaaed  to  the  aouthward,  the  neceaaity 
of  communicating  with  thoae  veaaela  produced  a  delay  fatal  to 
•  project  which  had  been  admirably  conceived,  and  which  there 
ia  reaaon  to  think  might  have  auccoedod.  After  joining  hia 
two  aubordinatea,  and  giving  hia  ordera.  Commodore  Jonea 
beat  into  the  Frith,  and  continued  working  up  towarda  Leith, 
until  the  17th,  when,  beina  juat  out  of  gun-ihot  of  the  town, 
the  boata  were  got  out  and  manned.  The  troopa  to  be  landed 
were  commanded  by  M.  de  Chamilliard ;  while  Mr.  Dale,  of 
the  Richard,  waa  put  at  the  head  of  the  aeamen.  The  latter 
had  received  hia  ordera,  and  waa  juat  about  to  go  into  hia  boat, 
when  a  aquall  atruck  the  ahipa,  and  waa  near  diamaating  tM 
commodore.  Finding  himaelf  obliged  to  fill  hia  aaila,  Comnio> 
dore  Jonea  endeavoured  to  keep  the  around  he  bad  gained,  but 
the  weight  of  the  wind  finally  oompeUed  all  the  veaaela  to  bear 
up,  and  a  aevere  gale  aucoeeding,  they  were  driven  into  tho 
North  Sea,  where  one  of  the  prixea  foundered. 

It  ia  not  eaay  to  aav  what  would  have  been  tha  reault  of  this 
daahing  enterpriae,  had  the  weather  permitted  the  attempt. 
The  audacitv  of  the  meeaure  might  have  insured  a  victory  { 
and  in  the  whole  desioa  wa  diaoover  the  deciaion,  high  moral 
G3urage,  and  deep  enthuaiaain  of  the  officer  who  conceived  b. 
It  waa  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Dale,  a  man  of  aingular  nQodeaty* 

Esat  simplicitv  of  character,  and  prodenoe,  that  auooec*  would 
re  rewarded  the  eSnl 


aoMIMMHia 


HATAI.     HilTOlT. 


(»tm 


Abundoning  this  bol.l  nrojort  with  mluftanon,  r^mmodow 
JoiMM  npi-^iiri  to  havo  tnodilaUxl  niiothflr  •nil  iiK>rr.  daring  j  but 
hia  eoUtague;  M  hfl  bitterly  atylw  hb  <oi)tniiw  in  one  (.f  hi« 
leiUM,  riilu*).!  u.  join  in  it.  It  i«  worthy  '»•  nrmtk,  that  whan 
ComiiMxloni  Jont^ii  laid  thia  aocond  Bch«me,  whirh  hu  nevtr 
boon  oiplalnod,  btilore  the  voung  ana-ofBcnra  of  hia  own  ahip, 
they  announced  their  rcacfinoaa  aa  onn  man  to  lecond  him, 
heart  and  hand.  The  ontorpriao  waa  dropiwil,  however,  in 
contwaueno*  principally  of  the  objectiona  of  Captain  Cottinoau, 
of  iho  I'allaa,  an  ofH"'  for  whoao  judgment  the  commodore 
•ppenra  to  have  entertained  much  roapect. 

The  Pallaa  and  Vengeance  even  loft  the  Richard,  probably 
with  a  view  to  prevent  the  attempt  to  eiecute  thin  namoloaa 
acheme,  and  the  comnwdore  waa  compelled  to  fo"o*  l;"!*:^!'- 
taina  to  the  southward,  or  to  lo«i  them  altogether.  Off  Whit^ 
the  «thipa  laat  mm^A  joined  again,  and  on  the  Slat  the  Richard 
ohaawl  «  collier  a»h')t«  between  Flamborough  lload  and  the 
Spurn.    The  ne»t  day  the  Richard  appeared  in  the  mouth  of 
the  Huinber,  with  the  Veogcanco  in  company  ;  and  •overnJ 
veaaeU  were  taken  or  deatroyed.  Plloto  were  enticed  on  board, 
•nd  11  knowledge  of  the  atate  of  thinga  in-ahore  waa  obtained. 
It  appeared  that  the  whole  coaat  waa  alarmed,  and  that  many 
peraoM  were  actually  burying  their  plate.    Some  twelve  or 
thirteen  veaaela  in  all  had  now  been  taken  by  the  aquadron, 
and  quite  oa  many  more  deatroyed ;  and  couplmg  thitae  fact^ 
with  the  appearance  of  the  ahip*  on  the  ooaat  and  in  the  Frith, 
rumour  hadaweUed  the  whole  into  one  of  ito  uaual  terrific 
talea.    Perhapa  no  veaaela  of  war  had  ever  before  excited  ao 
much  alarm  on  the  coaat  of  Great  Britain. 

Under  the  circuroatancea,  Ckwnmodore  Jooea  did  not  thlnlt 
it  prudent  to  remain  ao  cloee  la  with  the  land,  and  he  atood 
out  towarda  Flamborough  Head.  Here  two  Urge  aailwew 
made,  which  next  day  oroved  to  be  the  Alliance  and  the  Pallaa. 
Thia  waa  on  the  88d  of  September,  and  bringa  ua  down  to  tlw 
moat  memorable  event  in  thia  extraordinary  cruiae. 

The  wind  waa  light  at  the  aouthward,  the  water  amootb,  and 
many  veaaela  were  in  aight  ateering  in  different  directioM. 
About  noon,  hia  original  aquadron,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Cterf  and  the  two  privateera,  being  all  in  company.  Commodore 
Jonea  manned  one  of  the  piljt-boata  ho  had  deta  ned,  and  aent 
her  in  chaae  of  a  brig  thft  waa  lying-to,  to  windward.  On 
board  thia  little  veaael  were  put  Mr.  Lunt,  the  aecond  liw- 
tenant,  and  fifteen  men,  all  of  whom  ynsn  out  of  tbe  ahip  for 


mmt 


mmmmm^ 


TbF^ 


(ivm 

la  ring  i  but 
one  of  hb 
,  that  whon 

hM  nevar 
I  own  ship, 
jcond  him, 
owovcr,  in 

Cutttnnau, 
jommodora 

i,  probably 
1  namoloM 
QW  hid  cap- 
Off  Whitby 
ilia  Richard 
ad  and  tho 
le  nrnuth  of 
md  leveral 
d  on  board, 
M  obtained. 

that  many 
0  fwolve  or 
10  iquadron, 

thi!sn  facta 
in  the  Frith, 
■ual  terriflc 
» excited  to 

d  not  think 
md  he  stood 
m  aoil  were 
d  the  Pallaa. 
down  to  the 
i. 

snMoth,and 
tt  dirsotiono. 
option  of  the 
Commodore 
led,  and  tent 
dward.  On 
Mcond  lieu< 
tbe  «bip  for 


vm.] 


NATAL    miTOlT. 


91 


tho  mat  of  the  day.  In  conaequenoe  of  the  Iom  of  the  two 
bonta  off  Capi  (Jlnnr,  tho  abaence  of  thia  party  in  thu  pilot* 
biHil,  and  tho  nitinlKf  uf  intia  that  had  bocn  put  in  prixoa,  the 
Richard  waa  now  It'll  with  only  ono  aea-linutonant,  and  with 
little  more  than  throe  hundred  aouli  on  board,  excluiivoly  of 
tho  priaonora.  Of  the  lattor,  there  were  twlween  ono  and  two 
htindnHl  in  tho  ship. 

Tho  pilot-lxNit  nnd  hnnlly  Inft  (ho  Don  Ilommo  Richard, 
whmi  tho  It'ading  ships  of  a  fleet  of  more  than  forty  sail  wore 
teen  stretching  out  on  a  bowline,  flrom  behind  Flamborough 
Head,  turning  down  towards  tho  Straits  of  Dover.  Prom  pre> 
vious  inlollip^nce  this  flont  was  immcdiatoly  known  to  contain 
thn  Rnltio  ahi|)s,  under  tho  convoy  of  tho  Serapis  44,  Captain 
Richard  Pearson,  and  a  hinxl  ship  that  had  bran  put  into  the 
King's  service,  called  the  Countess  of  Scarborough.  The  latter 
waa  commaniksd  bv  Captain  Piorcy,  and  mounted  22  guns. 
As  tho  interoat  of  the  succeeding  dotaila  will  chiefly  centre  in 
tho  Sempis  and  tho  Richard,  it  may  be  well  to  give  a  more 
minute  account  of  tho  actual  force  of'^tho  former. 

At  tho  period  of  which  we  ore  now  writing,  forty-fours  were 
usually  built  on  two  docks.  Such,  then,  was  the  construction 
of  this  ship,  which  was  new,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being 
a  fhst  vemel.  On  hor  lower  gun-dock  she  mounted  20  eighteen- 
pound  guns ;  on  her  uppor  gun-deck,  30  nine-pound  guns ;  and 
on  her  quarter-deck  antf  forecastle,  10  six-pound  guna; 
making  an  armament  of  60  guna  in  the  whole.  She  had  a 
regularly  trained  man-of-war'a  crew  of  820  aouls,  15  of  whonit 
however,  were  aaid  to  have  been  Loacars. 

When  tbe  squadron  made  this  convoy,  the  men-of-war  w«re 
In-ahore,  aatem  and  to  leeward,  probably  with  a  view  to  keep 
the  merchantmen  together.  Tho  bailifft  of  SearboktHish,  petr 
ceiving  the  danger  into  which  this  little  fleet  waa  running,  had 
aent  a  boat  off  to  the  Serapia  to  apprise  her  of  the  presence  of 
a  hostile  force ;  and  Captain  Pieraoo  fired  two  guna,  signalling 
the  leading  veaaels  to  oome  under  hia  lee.  Theae  orders  were 
diaregardM,  however,  the  heodmoat  ships  standing  out  until 
they  wore  about  a  leootie  (Vom  the  land. 

Commodore  Jonea  Itaving  aacertained  the  character  of  the 
fleet  in  sight,  showed  a  signal  for  a  general  chase,  another  to 
recall  the  lieutenant  in  the  pilot-boat,  and  croaned  royal  yarda 
on  board  tbe  Richard.  These  signs  of  boatility  alarmed  the 
nearest  English  ships,  which  huiriedly  tacked  together,  flred 
alarm  guns,  let  fly  their  top-gallant  sheets,  and  mado  other 


^^^ 


NAVAL    MIITOlf. 


(int. 


■ignata  of  ilm  daiiRrr  Owy  w«r«  la,  whihi  they  now  f|iwiiy 
«f  Biled  (h^mnrtvci  iif  tlt«<  (irtMMKW  ortlw  veMwU  uf  wsr,  lu  run 
10  iMwnnl,  or  wniKht  •Ih-IIit  i-l<Mit<r  in  with  thn  land.  Tha 
8tnipi«i  on  th«  fDtUrnry,  mnimlUul  th«i  S<-nrlniniiigh  to  Cullow, 
•ikI  IwuIihI  lH>l<ily  out  to  wtu,  until  altn  liml  y^H  ikr  niKMiKh  tu 
wuulwaril,  whon  nba  Uckocl  and  stood  tii«ahura  a({Uii,  tu  covor 
bor  convoy. 

Thn  Allmnro  buing  much  Iha  (kaUMt  voMot  of  the  .Vmoricnn 
iiquadnin,  totik  tlui  loud  in  llm  chmnri,  i|MakinK  thn  I'allan  aa 
•h«  poaami.  it  liaa  hmn  provfd  that  ('a|itaiu  Tinntini*  told  tlm 
Coinniandor  of  llw  latter  vcnai-l  un  this  <M-faai<)n,  tliat  if  thn 
•tranger  proved  to  be  •  fiAy,  Ihay  had  nolhing  to  do  but  tu 
•lulvavour  to  .->«ca|ie.  Ilia  iubamjunnt  conduct  Hjlly  confirmed 
thia  opinion,  for  no  a<K>iMir)uid  he  run  down  near  (tmMigh  to  the 
two  Hngltah  vflaauU  of  war,  to  aotntrtain  tlioir  force,  than  he 
hauled  up,  and  stood  off  from  the  land  auain.  All  thin  waa 
not  only  contrary  to  Um  regular  order  of  iMiltln,  but  contrary 
to  the  poaitive  command  of  t>)mmodore  Joiiea,  who  had  kcut 
the  aiinuil  to  form  a  line  abntad,  which  should  have  brouKht 
the  Alliancn  astern  of  the  Itiohard,  anil  ihw  rallas  in  the  van. 
Juat  at  this  time,  thn  Pallaa  sjwke  tlie  Kichord  and  inquired 
what  station  she  should  take,  aud  waa  alao  directed  to  form 
the  lino.  But  the  extraordinary  movements  of  Captain  Lon- 
dais  appear  to  have  produced  some  indecision  in  the  command* 
er  of  the  Pallaa,  as  m*,  too,  84M)n  after  tacked  and  stood  off  from 
the  land.  Captain  Cottineau,  however,  waa  a  brave  man,  and 
aub«ni|uently  did  hia  duty  ir  the  action ;  and  this  mantBiivro 
has  been  explained  by  the  Richard's  hauling  up  suddenly  for 
the  land,  which  induced  him  to  think  that  her  crew  had  muti* 
nied  and  wers  running  away  with  the  ship.  Such  waa  the 
want  of  confidence  that  prevailed  in  a  force  ao  ainpularl^  com- 
posed, and  such  were  the  disadvantagea  under  which  tbia  oele- 
bratfld  combat  waa  fought  t 

So  fiir,  however,  iVom  meditating  retreat  ^  mutiny*  the  peo- 
ple of  the  Ron  Homme  Hichard  had  pme  cheerAilly  to  their 
quarters,  although  every  man  on  board  waa  conscioua  of  th« 
aupdriority  of  the  force  with  which  ihay  were  about  to  con- 
tend ;  and  the  high  unconquerable  spirit  of  the  coaunander 
appeara  to  have  communicatMT  itadf  to  the  crew. 

It  waa  now  quite  dark,  and  Commodore  Jonr^  was  compel- 
led to  follow  the  movements  of  the  enemy  bjr  the  aid  of  a  night- 
glass.  It  is  probable  that  the  obscurity  which  prevailed  add- 
ed to  the  indecision  of  the  commander  of  tbo  Pallas,  for  ftom 


(tim 

r«r,  lu  run 
ind.  Tha 
tu  fuilow, 
(•nouKh  (u 
ifto  coy«r 

American 
I'allun  M 
ii«  told  llw 
that  if  tho 
do  but  to 
coiifinned 
iHigh  tolha 
«,  than  h« 
II  thin  WM 
I  rontniry 
>  hod  kept 
vo  brougnt 
in  tho  van. 
id  inquired 
ikI  to  form 
ptain  Lion* 
command* 
«)d  off  from 
0  man,  and 
manoenvro 
jddonly  for 
t  had  mulU 
h  waa  ths 
ilarlv  com- 
h  tbiaoele- 

IV,  the  Mo- 
lly to  tmir 
ioua  of  thn 
)ut  to  oon- 
L'ommaiider 

aa  compel- 
lof  aoight* 
vaiM  add- 
«,  for  iVom 


tfm.) 


NAVAL    HIlTOftT* 


03 


Ihia  time  until  the  mtwn  torn,  ohjeria  at  a  ditumw  were  dia* 
tinguiahfki  with  ditfirully,  and  ovitii  alltir  ih«i  moon  a^iMMrml, 
with  um-wrfainly.  Tim  Hichard,  iHmfVir,  •lixxl  atmilily  on, 
nml  hUiMi  hair-|MMt  anvrn,  »\m  canwi  up  with  tho  Horapia,  thv 
Mr-nrlM>rtiii|(h  Ik<iii^  a  »h<irt  diatanrn  to  Iraiwanl.  Thn  Ameri- 
can ship  waa  to  windward,  and  aa  ahp  dr«w  alowly  noar,  Cap- 
tain Peanon  hailed.  The  ^nawor  waa  enuivocal,  and  hotli 
■hipa  dctlvcrrd  lh<iir  entire  broadaidcr  -arly  aimultamxiualy, 
'V\w  water  bning  quite  atnooth,  l'ommo«lore  Jonra  had  mliwi 
innlfrmlly  on  thn  ni|thtr<<na  that  wrtft  in  tho  gun-room  j  but  at 
tlua  diai-hargfl  two  nl  thn  aix  that  wnm  tfrtsd  buratcd,  blowing 
up  the  deck  above,  and  killing  and  wounding  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  twMwIo  that  wera  atationnd  bolow.  Thu  duHUter 
cauaiHi  all  tne  fwMvy  guna  to  he  inatantly  dtmrted.  It  at  once 
ro<lu<>(><|  thn  bnwdaitk;  of  Iht  Richanl  to  about  a  thini  \ima  than 
that  of  h«r  opoownt,  not  to  iiiclud*  th«  disadvantaj"?  of  thfl 
manner  in  which  the  force  that  ramained  waa  dwtributed 
among  light  guna.  In  abort,  the  combat  waa  now  between  a 
twelve-pttundnr  and  an  nighteen-pounder  frigate ;  a  apeciea  of 
conteat  in  which,  it  haa  men  aaid,  wn  know  im>i  with  what 
truth,  tho  former  had  nnvcr  biysn  known  t«>  provoil.  Commo- 
dore Jonea  informa  ua  hiinanlf,  that  all  hia  hopea,  after  thia  ac- 
cident, roated  on  tho  twelve- pounders  that  were  under  the  com* 
mand  of  hie  fint  lieutenant. 

The  Richard,  having  backed  her  topMila,  aiehanged  aevo- 
ral  broadaidea,  whrn  ahe  filled  again  and  ahot  ahead  of  the 
Serapia,  which  ahip  luflbd  acroae  her  atern  and  oime  up  on 
tho  weather  auarter  of  her  antagooiat,  uking  the  wind  out  of 
her  aaila,  and,  in  her  turn,  pewing  ahead.  All  thie  time,  which 
consumed  half  an  hour,  the  cannonading  waa  close  aiid  fbri* 
ous.  The  Scarborough  now  drew  near,  but  it  is  uncertain 
whether  she  fired  or  not.  On  the  side  of  the  Americans  it  is 
affirmed  that  she  raked  the  Richard  at  least  once ;  but,  by  the 
report  of  her  own  commander,  it  would  appear  that,  on  ac- 
count of  the  obscurity  and  the  smoke,  he  was  afhiid  to  dis* 
charge  his  guns.  Un;s'Hling  to  lie  by,  and  to-  be  exposed  to 
useless  injury,  Captain  Pieroy  edged  away  fhrni  tho  combat- 
ants, exchanging  a  broadaide  or  two,  at  a  great  distance,  with 
the  Alliance,  and  shortly  afterwards  waa  engaged  at  close 
quartera  by  th«  Pallas,  which  ship  compelled  hun  to  strike, 
after  •  creditable  resistance  of  about  an  nour. 

The  Serapia  kept  her  lufT,  sailing  and  working  better  than 
the  Richard,  and  it  was  the  intentwn  of  Captain  Pearson  to 


■w  mm  U" 


94 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


(1770. 


S 


pay  broad  off  across  the  latter's  forefoot,  as  soon  as  he  hod 
'ot  far  enough  ahead ;  but  making  the  attempt,  and  finding 
lie  had  not  room,  he  put  his  helm  hard  down  to  keep  clear  of 
his  adversary,  when  the  double  movement  brought  the  two 
ships  nearly  in  a  line,  the  Serapis  leading.  By  these  uncer- 
tain  evolutions,  the  English  ship  lost  some  of  her  way,  while 
the  American,  having  kept  her  sails  trimmed,  not  only  closed, 
but  actually  ran  aboard  of  her  antagonist,  bows  on,  a  littio  on 
her  weather  quarter.  The  wind  being  light,  much  time  was 
consumed  in  these  different  martoeuvres  5  and  oear  an  hour  had 
elapsed  between  the  firing  of  the  first  guns,  and  the  moment 
when  the  vessels  got  foul  of  each  other  in  the  manner  just  oe- 

cribed.  .     .        .        p  ^.     l 

The  English  now  thought  it  was  the  mtention  of  the  Ame- 
ricans to  board,  and  a  few  minutes  pessed  in  thj  uncertainty 
wMch  such  in  expectatiov.  would  create  j  but  the  positions  of 
the  vessels  wore  not  favouraye  fi)r  either  purty  to  pas*  into 
iM  opposing  ship.  There,  liclcg  at  this  moment  a  perfect  oes^ 
Mtion  of  the  firiug,  Captain  Pearson  demanded,  "Have  you 
struck  your  colours  1"  »'  I  have  not  yet  begun  to  fight,    wa» 

the  answer.  .    ,     ,       j  .u       m 

The  yards  of  the  Richard  were  braced  aback,  and,  the  Kula 
of  the  SerapU  being  flill,  the  ships  separated.  A*  soon  as  far 
enough  asunder,  the  Serapis  put  her  helm  hard  dow-  id  lUl 
abac":  forward,  shivered  her  after-aails,  and  wore  Kmnd 

on  her  heel,  or  was  box-hauled,  witli  a  view,  rao.  rohaUy, 
of  luffing  up  athwart  the  bow  of  her  enemy,  in  o^  A  to  agsm 
rake  hsr.  Commodoio  Jones,  h^  this  time,  was  ocnsciou»  of 
the  hopelessness  of  success  against  so  much  heavier  met^, 
omd  cfter  having  backed  astern  oomo  distance,  tie  filled  on  the 
other  tack,  luffing  up  with  the  intention  of  meciing  the  enemy 
as  he  came  to  the  wind,  and  of  laying  him  athwrt  hawse.  In 
the  smoke  one  party  or  the  other  miscalculatad  the  distance, 
for  the  two  vessels  came  fouJ  again,  the  bowsprit  of  the  Eng- 
lish ship  pasf  ing  over  the  poop  of  the  iimercon.  As  neither 
had  much  way,  the  collision  did  hut  littki  iiuury,  and  Commo- 
Aon  Jones,  wUh  his  own  hands,  immedialf^y  .ashed  tha  ene- 
m^'s  head-gear  to  his  mizzen-roaa*.  The  piwwire  on  the  after- 
siuls  of  .he  Serapis,  which  vessel  was  nearly  bef&re  the  wind 
at  the  Hme,  brought  her  hull  lound,  tud  the  two  sbioa  Kradu- 
ally  fell  ctoee  alongside  of  each  othei,  head  and  riem,  tbe  jiD- 
boom  of  the  Seiapls  giving  way  with  the  strain.  A  spar-  ^ 
chor  of  the  E^igUsh  ahip  now  booked   a  the  quarter  t    Jw 


mmmmmmmm 


[1770. 

s  he  had 

id  finding 
p  clear  of 
t  the  two 
«e  uncer- 
ray,  while 
ily  closed, 
a  little  on 
time  wu 
1  hour  had 
e  moment 
er  just  de< 

'  the  Ame* 
incertainty 
Mitions  01 
past  into 
lerfect  ces^ 
Have  you 
fight,"  waa 

id,  the  soils 
soon  at  far 
r-  •  id  til 
■V*  round 
rohaUy, 
jt  to  agstn 
insciouK  of 
vier  metal, 
tiled  on  the 
the  enemy 
hawse.  In 
le  distance, 
if  the  Ecg- 
As  neither 
nd  Ck>mmo< 
L^  th3  eoe* 
>n  the  after* 
re  the  rrind 
bina 
em 

A  spar-  <ui* 
liter  t    JIM 


1779.1 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


95 


American,  and  additional  laghings  were  got  out  on  board  the 
latter  to  secure  her  in  this  |x)sition. 

Captain  Pearaon,  who  was  o;^  much  aware  of  his  advantaoe 
in  a  regular  combat  as  his  opponent  could  be  of  his  own  in^- 
riority,  no  sooner  perceived  the  vessels  foul,  than  he  dropped 
an  anchor,  in  the  hope  that  the  Richard  would  dritl  clear  of 
him.  But  such  an  expectation  was  perfectly  futile,  as  the 
yards  were  interlocked,  the  hulls  were  pressed  close  against 
each  other,  there  were  lashings  fore  and  aft,  and  even  the  orna- 
mental work  aided  in  holding  the  ships  together.  When  the 
cables  of  the  Serapis  took  the  strain,  the  vessels  slowly  tend- 
ed, with  the  bows  of  the  Serapis  and  the  stern  of  the  Richard 
to  the  tide.  At  this  instant  the  English  made  an  attempt  to 
board,  but  were  repulsed  with  trifling  loss. 

All  this  time  the  battle  raged.  The  lower  ports  of  the  Se- 
rapis having  been  closed  to  prevent  boardina,  as  the  vessel 
swung,  they  were  now  blown  oflf,  iu  order  to  aUow  the  guns  to 
be  run  out ;  and  cases  actually  occurred  in  which  the  rammers 
had  to  be  thrust  into  the  ports  of  ^the  opposite  ship  in  order  to 
be  entered  into  the  musuden  of  their  proper  guns.  It  is  evident 
that  such  a  conflict  must  have  been  of  short  duration.  In  ef- 
fect, the  heavy  metal  of  the  Serapis,  in  one  or  two  discharges, 
cleoired  all  before  it,  and  the  main-deck  guns  of  the  Richard 
were  in  a  great  measure  abandoned.  Most  of  the  people  went 
on  the  upper-deck,  and  a  great  number  collected  on  the  fore- 
castle, where  they  were  safe  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  con- 
tinuing to  fight  by  throwing  grenades  and  using  muskets. 

In  tnis  ata^  of  the  comtet,  th«  Serapis  was  tearing  her  an- 
tagonist to  pieces  below,  alnrast  without  resistance  from  her 
enemy's  batteries ;  only  two  guns  on  the  quarter-deck,  and 
three  or  four  of  the  twelves,  bemg  worked  at  all.  To  the  for- 
mer, by  sbiAins  a  guu  f^om  the  larboard  side,  Commodoro 
Jones  succeeded  in  adding  a  third,  all  of  which  were  used  with 
effiMst,  under  his  immediate  inspection,  to  the  close  of  the  ac- 
tion. Ho  could  not  muster  force  enough  to  get  over  a  second 
pun.  But  the  combat  would  now  have  soon  terminated,  had 
It  nut  been  for  the  courage  and  activity  of  the  people  aloft. 
Strong  parties  had  been  placed  in  the  tops,  and,  at  the  end  of  a 
shOTt  contest,  the  Americans  had  driven  every  m&n  belonging 
to  tba  enemy  below ;  after  which  they  kept  up  so  animated  a 
fin,  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Serapis  in  particular,  aa  to 
drive  neerlY  every  man  oflTit,  that  waa  not  shot  down. 

Thus,  while  the  English  had  the  battle  nearly  to  themselves 


96 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[1779. 


bolow,  their  enemiea  had  the  control  above  the  upper-deck. 
Having  cleared  the  tops  of  the  Scrapis,  some  Amencau  sea- 
men lay  out  on  the  Richard's  main-yard,  and  be^n  to  throw 
hand-grenades  upon  the  two  upper  decks  of  the  English  ship  5 
the  men  on  the  forecastle  of  their  own  vessel  seconding  these 
efforts,  by  casting  the  same  combustibles  through  the  ports  of 
the  Serapis.  At  length  one  man,  in  parlicular,  became  so 
hardy  as  to  take  his  post  on  the  extreme  end  of  the  yard, 
whence,  provided  with  a  bucket  filled  with  combustibles,  and  a 
match,  he  dropped  the  grenades  with  so  much  precision,  that 
one  passed  through  the  mam  hatch-way.  The  powder-boys 
of  the  Serapis  had  got  more  cartridges  up  than  were  wanted, 
and,  in  their  hurry,  they  had  carelessly  laid  a  row  of  them  on 
the  main-deck,  in  a  line  with  the  guns.  The  grenade  just 
mentioned  set  fite  to  some  loose  powder  that  was  lying  n^r, 
and  the  flash  passed  from  cartridge  to  cartridge,  beginning 
abi«ast  of  the  main-mast,  and  running  quite  aft. 

The  effect  of  this  explosion  was  awful.  More  than  twenty 
men  were  instantly  killed,  many  of  them  being  left  with  no- 
thing  on  them  but  the  collar,  and  vmstbands  of  their  shirts,  and 
the  waistbands  of  their  duck  trowsers ;  while  the  official  returns 
of  the  ship,  a  week  af^r  the  action,  show  that  there  w«te  no 
less  than  thirty-eight  wounded  on  board,  still  alive,  who  had 
been  injured  in  this  manner,  and  of  whom  thirty  were  then  aud 
to  be  in  great  danger.  Captain  Pearson  described  this  explo- 
sion as  having  destroyed  nearly  all  the  men  at  the  five  or  mx 
aftermost  guns.  On  the  whole,  near  buty  of  the  enemv  s  peo- 
pie  must  have  been  instantly  disabled  by  this  sudden  blow. 

The  advantage  thus  obtained,  by  the  coolness  and  mtrepi- 
dity  of  the  topmen,  in  a  great  measure  restored  the  chances  of 
the  combat,  and,  by  lessening  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  enabled 
Commodore  Jones  to  increase  his.  In  the  «me  degree  that  it 
encouraged  the  crew  of  the  Richard,  it  diminished  the  hopes  ot 
the  peo^e  of  the  Serapis.  One  of  the  guns  under  the  imme- 
diate  inspection  of  Commodore  Jones  had  been  pomted  some 
time  agwnst  the  main-mast  of  his  enemy,  while  the  two  others 
had  seconded  the  fire  of  the  tops,  with  frrape  and  <«nwter. 
Kept  below  decks  by  this  double  attack,  where  a  scene  of  fhjght- 
fill  horror  was  present  in  the  agonies  of  the  wounded,  and  tlie 
efiects  of  the  explosion,  the  spirits  of  the  English  began  to 
droop,  and  there  was  a  moment  when  a  trifle  would  have  in. 
duced  them  to  submit.    From  this  despondency  they  were  tern- 


trntmrn 


mim 


mttrntmititiilm 


[1779. 

pper*deck. 
ricau  sea- 
n  to  throw 
gliah  ship ; 
ding  these 
te  porta  of 
became  to 

the  yard, 
ibies,  and  a 
sision,  that 
)wdor-boy8 
ite  wanted, 
cf  them  on 
renade  just 
lying  near, 

beginning 

lan  twenty 
fl  with  no- 
shirts,  and 
eial  returns 
re  were  no 
e,  who  had 
re  then  said 
this  explo- 
}  five  or  six 
lemy's  peo- 
sn  blow, 
and  intrepi* 
chances  of 
uy,  enabled 
jgree  that  it 
he  hopes  of 
r  the  imme- 
linted  some 
)  two  others 
nd  canister, 
ne  of  fright- 
ted,  and  the 
ih  began  to 
uld  have  in- 
>y  were  tern- 


1779.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


97 


porarily  raised,  by  one  of  those  unlooked-for  events  that  cha- 
racteriss  the  vicissitudes  of  battle. 

After  exchanging  the  inoiToctivo  and  distant  broadsides, 
already  montionod,  with  the  Scarborough,  the  Alliance  had 
kept  Btandir.j;  off  and  on,  to  leeward  of  the  two  principal  ships, 
out  of  the  direction  of  their  shot,  when,  about  half-past  eight 
she  appeared  crossing  the  stern  of  the  Serapis  and  the  bow  of 
the  Richard,  firing  at  such  a  distance  as  to  render  it  impossible 
to  say  which  vessel  would  suffer  the  most.  As  soon  as  she 
had  drawn  out  of  tho  range  of  her  own  guns,  her  helm  was 
put  up,  and  she  ran  down  near  a  mile  to  leeward,  hovering 
about  until  the  firing  had  ceased  between  the  Pallas  and  the 
Scarborough,  when  she  came  within  hail  and  spoke  both  of 
these  vessels.  Captain  Cottineau  of  the  Pallas  earnestly  en- 
treated Captain  Landais  to  take  possession  of  his  prize,  and 
allow  him  to  go  to  the  assistance  of  the  Richard,  or  to  stretch 
up  to  windward  in  the  Alliance  himself,  and  succour  the  Com- 
niodore. 

After  some  delay.  Captain  Landais  took  the  important  duty 
of  assisting  his  consort,  into,  his  own  hands,  and  making  two 
long  stretches,  under  his  topsails,  he  appeared,  about  the  time 
at  which  we  have  arrived  in  the  narration  of  the  combat,  di- 
rectly to  windward  of  the  two  ships,  with  the  head  of  the  AU 
liance  to  the  westward.  Here  the  latter  ship  once  more  opened 
her  fire,  doinf;  equal  damage,  at  least,  to  friend  and  foe.  Keep- 
ing away  a  little,  and  still  continuing  her  fiie,  the  Alliance  was 
soon  on  the  larboard  quarter  of  the  Richard,  and,  it  is  even 
aflinned,  that  her  guns  were  discharged  until  she  had  got  nearly 
abeam. 

Fifty  voices  now  hailed  to  tell  the  people  of  the  Alliance  that 
they  were  firing  into  the  wrong  ship,  aud  three  lanterns  were 
shown,  in  a  line,  on  the  oflTside  of  the  Richard,  which  was  the 
r^ular  signal  of  recognition  for  a  night  action.  An  oflSoer 
was  directed  to  hail,  nnd  to  command  Captain  liandais  to  lay 
the  enemy  aboard ;  and  the  question  being  put  whether  the 
order  was  comprehended,  an  answer  was  given  in  the  aisSrma- 
five. 

As  the  moon  had  been  up  some  tine,  it  was  impossible  not 
to  distinguish  between  the  vessels,  the  Richard  being  all  Mack, 
while  the  Serapis  had  yellow  sides ;  and  the  impresskm  seems 
to  have  heaa  ^neral  m  the  former  vesxl,  that  she  had  been 
attacked  intentionally.  At  the  discharge  of  the  first  guns  of 
the  Alliance,  the  peqrib  left  one  or  two  of  the  twelves  on  board 
9 


NATAL    HIBTORT. 


[1779 


the  Richard,  which  they  had  begun  to  fight  again,  saying  that 
the  Enaliahmen  in  the  Alliance  had  got  possession  of  the  ship, 
and  were  helping  the  enemy.  It  appears  that  this  dachargo 
dismounted  a  gun  or  two,  extinguished  several  lanterns  on  the 
main  deck,  and  did  a  great  deal  of  damage  aloft. 

The  AlKance  hauled  oil'  to  some  distance,  keopmg  alwaya 
on  the  off-side  of  the  Richard,  and  soon  after  she  reappeared 
edging  down  on  the  larboard  beam  of  her  consort,  hauhng  up 
athwaTt  the  bows  of  that  ship  and  the  stem  of  her  antogoiust. 
On  this  occasion,  it  is  affirmed  that  her  fire  recommenced, 
when,  by  possibility,  the  shot  could  only  reach  the  Serapia 
through  the  Richahl.  Ten  or  twelve  men  appear  to  have 
been  killed  and  wounded  on  the  forecastle  of  the  latter  ship, 
which  was  crowded  at  the  time,  and  among  them  waa  an  offl- 
oer  of  tiie  name  of  Caswell,  who,  with  his  dying  breath,  mam- 
taimd  that  he  had  received  his  wound  by  the  fire  of  the 
Richard*!  oonaort.  „.  .     ^       ,    v    -.         e 

After  crossing  the  bowr  of  the  Richard,  and  the  stem  ol 
tlw  Serapis,  delivering  grape  as  she  passed,  the  Alliance  ran 
off  to  leeward,  again  standing  off  a^  on,  dung  nothing,  for 
the  remainder  of  the  combat.  .         .     ,    ,       /.  .u 

The  firo  of  the  Alliance  added  greatly  to  the  leaks  of  the 
Richard,  which  ship,  by  this  time,  had  received  so  much  water 
through  the  shot-holes,  as  to  begin  to  settle.  It  is  even  affirmed 
by  many  witneaaea,  that  the*  most  dangerous  ahot>holes  m 
board  the  Richard,  were  under  her  larboard  bow,  and  larboard 
counter,  in  places  where  they  could  not  have  been  received 
from  the  fiie  of  the  Serapis.  This  evidence,  however,  u  not 
unanswerable^as  it  has  been  seen  that  the  Serapis  luffed  up  on 
the  larboerd-qoarter  of  the  Richard  in  the  commencement  of 
the  actkw,  and,  forging  ahead,  was  subsequently  on  her  lar- 
board bow,  endeavouring  to  croes  her  fore-foot.  It  is  certainly 
possible  that  shot  may  have  struck  the  Richard  in  the  places 
roentbned,  on  these  occasions,  and  that,  as  the  ship  settled  in 
the  water,  from  other  leaks,  the  holee  then  made  n^y  have 
suddenly  increased  the  danger.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  Al- 
lianoe  m  actually  fiio  while  on  the  bow  and  quarter  of  the 
Richard,  aa  would  appear  by  •  mass  of  uncontradicted  teato- 
mony,  the  dangerous  shot-boles  may  very  well  have  come 

from  that  ship.  .       «  _.     »i. 

Lm  tbe  mjuriea  have  been  received  firom  what  marter  they 
fingfat,  aoon  afJer  the  Alliaiice  had  run  to  leeward,  an  atann 
WW  ipnnd  in  the  Richard  that  the  ship  was  sinking.    B(4li 


niiiMli 


liiiiiiiHIiiiiii^ 


^Mj^^^^M 


.iwrfti 


[1779 

saying  that 
of  the  ship, 
s  dischars*' 
erna  on  the 

ping  always 
I  reappearad 
,  hauling  up 
'  antagonist, 
commenced, 
tho  Serapis 
3ar  to  havr 
9  latter  ship, 
was  anoffl- 
reath,  main- 
fire  of  the 

the  stem  of 
Alliance  ran 
nothing,  for 

leaks  of  the 
much  water 
sven  affirmed 
hot>hotos  on 
and  larboard 
een  received 
irever,  is  not 
I  luffed  up  on 
lencement  of 
r  on  her  lar- 
[t  is  certainly 
in  the  places 
ihip  settled  in 
,de  taky  have 
nd,  if  theAl- 
uarter  of  tho 
«dicted  te>ti> 
1  have  como 

quarter  they 
inl,  an  alarm 
Dking.    BoUi 


1779.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


99 


vessels  had  been  on  fire  several  times,  and  some  difficulty  had 
been  experienced  in  extinsuiihing  tho  llames ;  but  here  wan  a 
new  enemy  to  contend  with,  and,  as  tho  information  came  from 
the  carpenter,  whoso  duty  it  was  to  sound  tho  pump-wells,  it 
produced  a  good  deal  of  consternation.  Tho  Uichard  had 
more  than  a  hundred  English  prisoners  on  board,  and  the 
moster'ttt-arms,  m  the  hurry  of  the  moment,  lot  them  all  up 
from  below,  in  order  to  savo  their  lives.  In  tho  confusion,  the 
master  of  the  letter  of  marque,  that  had  been  taken  off  the 
north  of  Scotland,  passed  through  a  port  of  the  Richard  into 
oAo  of  the  Serapis,  when  ho  informed  Captain  Pearson,  that 
a  few  minutes  wmild  probably  decide  tho  battle  in  his  fhvour, 
or  carry  his  enemy  down,  he  himself  having  been  liberated  in 
order  to  save  his  Hib.  Just  at  this  instant  tho  gunner,  who 
had  little  to  attend  to  at  his  quarters,  came  on  deck,  and 
not  perceiving  Commodore  Jones,  or  Mr.  Dale,  both  of  whom 
wore  occupied  with  the  liberated  prisoners,  and  believing  tho 
master,  the  only  other  superior  he  had  in  the  ship,  to  be  dead, 
he  ran  up  on  the  poop  to  haul  down  the  colours.  Fortimately 
the  flag-staff  had  been-  shot  away,  and,  the  ensign  already 
hanging  in  the  water,  he  had  no  other  moans  of  letting  his 
intention  be  known,  than  by  calling  out  for  ouarter.  Captain 
Pearson  now  hailed  to  inquire  if  the  Richara  demanded  quar« 
ter,  and  was  answered  by  Commodore  Jones  himself,  in  the 
negative.  It  is  probable  that  the  reply  was  not  heard,  or,  if 
heard,  supposed  to  come  from  an  unauthorised  source ;  for,  en- 
couraged by  what  he  had  learned  flrom  the  escaped  prisoner, 
by  the  cry,  and  by  the  eonlbsion  that  prevliiled  in  the  Rich- 
ara,  the  English  captain  directed  his  boarders  to  be  called 
away,  and,  as  soon  as  mustered,  they  were  ordered  to  take 
possession  of  the  prize.  Some  of  the  men  actually  sot  on  the 
gunwale  of  the  latter  ship,  but  finding  boarders  ready  to  repel 
boarders,  they  made  a  precipitate  retreat.  All  this  time,  the 
top-men  were  not  idle,  and  the  enemy  were  soon  driven  below 
again  with  kMs. 

In  the  mean  while,  Mr.  Dale,  who  no  longer  had  a  gnn 
that  eould  be  fbnght,  mustered  the  prisoners  at  the  pumpa, 
taming  th«ir  oonateroatkm  to  account,  and  probably  keeping 
the  Richard  aftoat  by  the  very  blunder  that  had  come  S9  netr 
k)aingher.  The  shipa  were  now  on  fire  again,  and  both  par- 
tiea,  with  the  ezoepmo  of  a  ihw  guni  on  each  aide,  oeaaed 
i^ng,  in  txrder  to  subdue  this  oommon  enemy.  In  the 
oooiM  of  the  oonbnt,  the  Serapii  ia  said  to  havo  boeo  aet  on 


100 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[1719. 


fire  no  Ion*  Ihnn  tv/olvo  timoa,  while,  townrdi  iU  clojo,  m  will 
be  Been  in  the  scqucil,  the  Richard  was  burning  all  the  while. 

As  uwn  M  onl«T  woa  once  more  restored  in  the  Kicnara, 
her  chonce*  of  buccom  began  greatly  to  increase,  while  the 
English,  driven  under  cover,  almost  to  a  man,  «PJ«?'  lo 
have  lost,  in  a  great  degree,  the  hope  of  victory,  fhcr  fire 
materially  slackened,  while  the  Richard  again  brought  a  few 
more  guns  to  bear ;  the  main-mast  of  the  Serapis  began  to 
totter,  and  her  resistunco,  in  general,  to  lewon.  Atout  an 
hour  after  the  explosion,  or  between  three  hours  and  three 
hours  and  a  half  after  the  first  sun  was  fired,  and  between  two 
hours  and  two  hours  and  a  half  after  the  ships  were  lash^  to- 
aether.  Captain  Pearson  hauled  down  the  colours  of  the  Sera- 
pis  with  his  own  hands,  the  men  refijsing  to  expose  themseUi* 
to  the  fire  of  the  Richard's  tops.  ,  ..     «     ,•  u  u.a 

When  it  was  known  that  the  colours  of  the  English  haa 
been  lowered,  Mr.  Dale  got  upon  the  gunwale  of  the  Richard, 
and  layinK  hold  of  the  main-brace-pendant,  he  swung  himselt 
on  board  the  Serapis.    On  the  quarter-deck  of  the  latter  ho 
found  Captain  Pearson,  almost  alone,  that  rallant  officer  havmg 
maintained  his  post,  throughout  the  whole  of  this  cl^  and 
murderous  conflict.    Just  as  Mr.  Dale  addressed  the  Eng  ish 
captain,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Serapis  came  up  from  below 
to  inquire  if  the  Richard  had  struck,  her  fir«  having  entirely 
ceased.    Mr.  Dale  now  gave  the  English  oflicer  to  understand 
that  he  was  mistaken  in  the  position  of  things,  the  Jterapii 
having  struck  to  thb  Richard,  and  not  the  Richard  to  the  Se- 
rapis.    Captain  Pearson  confirming  this  account,  his  subordi- 
nate  acquiesced,  offering  to  go  below  and  silence  the  g"""  that 
were  still  playing  upon  the  American  ship.     To  this  Mr.  Liaie 
would  not  consent,  but  both  the  English  officers  were  imme- 
diately  passed  on  board  the  Richard.    The  firing  was  then 
■topped  below.    Mr.  Dale  had  been  clowjly  followed  to  the 
quarter-deck  of  the  Serapis,  by  Mr.  Mayrant,  a  midshipman, 
and  a  party  of  boarders,  and  as  the  ftrmer  struck  the  quarter- 
deck  of  the  prizo,  he  was  run  through  the  thi-h,  by  a  boarding^ 
pike,  in  the  hands  of  a  man  in  the  waist,  who  was  ignorant  of 
the  surrender.    Thus  did  the  close  of  this  renmrkable  corobat 
resemble  its  other  features  in  singularity,  blood  Uinrr  shed  and 
shot  fired,  while  the  boarding  officer  was  m  amicabiu  discourse 

with  his  prisoners  I  . ..     n-  u  -j  -«j 

As  soon  as  Captain  Pearson  was  on  board  the  Rwhard,  ana 

Mr.  Dale  had  received  a  proper  number  of  hands  in  the  pruM, 


■&««■«■ 


•lessimmiimmmtmmKm 


mtmi^tmm 


[1779. 
)M,  M  will 

he  while. 

e  Richard, 

I  whilo  tho 

appoar  to 

Their  ftre 

ught  a  few 

I  Dogaii  to 

About  an 

and  three 

ctwcen  two 

i  laahed  to- 

,f  the  Sera- 

themteU^ 

Inglish  had 
he  Richard, 
ung  himself 
:he  latter  ho 
ficer  having 
»  cloae  and 
tho  English 
from  below 
ing  entirely 
)  understand 
the  Serapis 
rd  to  theae- 
his  subordi- 
he  guns  that 
his  Mr.  Dale 
were  imme- 
ig  was  then 
owed  to  the 
midshipman, 
L  the  quarter- 
y  a  boerding- 
s  ignorant  of 
kable  combat 
-ins;  ahed  and 
ibiu  discourse 

Richard,  and 
I  in  the  priu, 


1779.1 


NAVAL     HI8TORV. 


101 


Commodore  Jones  ordered  the  lashings  to  be  cut,  and  tho  ves- 
mcIn  to  be  separated,  hailing  tho  ScrnpJH,  ns  tho  Richard  drifted 
from  alongside  of  her,  and  ordering  her  to  follow  his  own  ship. 
Mr.  Dale,  now  had  the  head  sails  of  tho  Serapis  braced  sharp 
aback,  and  tho  wheel  put  down,  but  tho  vessel  refused  to  answer 
her  helm  or  her  canvass.  Surprised  and  excited  at  (his  cir- 
cumstance,  the  gallant  lieutenant  sprang  from  tho  binnacle  on 
which  he  had  seated  himself,  and  foil  his  length  on  the  dock. 
He  had  been  severely  wounded  in  the  leg  by  a  splinter,  and 
until  this  moment  was  ignorant  of  tho  injury  I  Ho  was  replaced 
on  the  binnacle,  when  tho  master  of  the  Serapis  came  up  and 
acquainted  him  with  the  fact  that  the  ship  was  anchored. 

By  this  time,  Mr.  Lunt,  the  second  lieutenant,  who  had  been 
absent  in  the  pilot  boat,  had  got  alongside,  and  was  on  board 
the  prize.  To  this  officer  Mr.  Dale  now  consigned  the  charge 
of  the  Serapis,  the  cable  was  cut,  and  tho  ship  followed  the 
Richard,  as  ordered. 

Although  this  protracted  and  bloody  combat  had  now  ended, 
neither  the  danger  nor  the  labours  of  the  victors  were  over. 
The  Richard  was  both  sinking  and  on  fire.  The  flames  had 
got  within  the  ceiling,  and  extended  ko  ihr  that  they  menaced 
the  magazine,  while  all  the  pumps,  in  constant  use,  could  barely 
keep  the  water  at  the  sanw  level.  Had  it  depended  on  the  ex- 
hausted people  of  the  two  combatants,  tho  ship  must  havo  soon 
sunk,  but  the  other  vessels  of  the  squadron  sent  bonds  on  board 
the  Richard,  to  assist  at  the  pumps.  So  imminent  did  the 
danger  from  the  fire  become,  that  all  the  powder  was  got  on 
deck,  to  prevent  an  explosion.  In  this  manner  did  the  night 
of  the  battle  pass,  with  one  sang  alwavs  at  the  pumps,  and 
another  contending  with  the  flames,  until  about  ten  o'clock  in 
the  forenoon  of  the  94th,  when  the  latter  were  got  under.  After 
the  action,  eight  or  ten  Englishmen  in  the  Richard,  stole  a 
boat  from  the  Serapis,  and  ran  away  with  it,  landing  at  Scar- 
borough. Several  of  the  men  were  so  alarmed  with  the  con- 
dition of  their  ship,  as  to  jump  overboard  and  swim  to  the 
other  vessels. 

When  the  day  dawned,  an  examination  was  made  into  the 
condition  of  the  Richard.  AMft,  on  a  line  with  those  guns  of 
the  Serapis  that  had  not  been  disabled  by  the  explosion,  the 
timbers  were  found  to  be  nearly  all  beaten  in,  or  beaten  out, 
for  in  this  respect  there  was  little  diflerenoe  between  the  two 
sides  of  the  ship;  and  it  was  said  that  her  poop  and  upper 
decks  would  have  fidlen  into  the  gun-room,  but  for  a  few  rut- 
9* 


103 


NAVAL    MlBTOmT. 


(177S. 


tocki  that  had  iwon  miMod.  Indeed,  to  Imtm  wm  the  vMuum, 
that  moet  of  the  ahot  fired  from  thia  part  of  the  Serapin,  at  the 
cloae  of  iho  action,  must  have  gone  through  llio  Ukhard  with- 
out touching  any  thing.  The  rudder  waa  cut  from  the  atern- 
poat,  uitd  the  trauaonrw  wore  nearly  driven  out  of  her.  All 
the  after  part  of  tho  ship,  in  particular,  that  waa  below  the 
quart«-dock,  waa  torn  to  piocea,  and  nothing  had  saved  thcwJ 
■tationed  on  tho  quarter-dock,  but  the  imposaibility  ol  auffi- 
ciently  elevating  cuna  that  almoat  touched  their  object. 

The  reault  of  thia  examination  waa  to  convince  every  ono 
of  the  impoeaibility  of  carrying  tho  Richard  into  port,  m  tho 
event  of  iU  coming  on  to  blow.  Commodore  Jonoa  waa  ad- 
viaed  to  remove  hia  wounded  while  tho  weather  continued  mo- 
derate, and  ho  reluctantly  gave  the  order  to  commence.  Tho 
following  night  and  the  morning  of  the  mjcceoding  day  wero 
employed  m  executing  thia  imperioua  duty;  and  about  nmo 
o'clock,  the  officer  of  the  Pallas,  who  was  m  charge  of  the 
ahip,  with  a  party  at  the  pumps,  finding  that  the  water  had 
reached  the  lower  d«;k,  reluctantly  obandoned  her.  About 
ten,  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  wallowed  heavily,  gave  a  roll, 
ond  aettled  alowly  into  the  aca,  bowa  forcmoat. 

The  Serapia  aufiered  much  leaa  than  the  Richard,  the  guns 
of  the  latter  having  been  ao  light,  and  ao  soon  silenced ;  but 
no  aooner  were  Ae  ships  separated,  than  her  main-roost 
fell,  bringing  down  with  it  the  mizxen-top-maat.  Though 
iury-moate  wer«  erected,  the  ahip  drove  about,  nearly  helpl««, 
m  the  North  Sea,  until  the  6th  of  October,  when  the  renriaina 
of  the  aquadron,  with  the  two  prinea,  got  into  the  Texcl,  the 
port  to  which  they  had  been  ordered  to  repair. 

In  the  combat  between  the  Richard  and  the  Serapis,  an  unu- 
sual number  of  Uvea  waa  loat,  though  no  reguUr  authentic 
report  appeora  to  have  been  given  by  either  aide.  CapUin 
Pearaon  states  the  losa  of  the  Richard  at  about  800  m  killed 
and  wounded ;  a  total  that  would  have  included  very  nearly 
all  hand8,and  which  waa  certainly  a  great  exaggeratwn,  or  al 
least  a  great  mistake.  According  to  a  muater-roll  of  the  ofti- 
cera  and  people  of  the  Richard,  excluding  the  mannea,  which 
is  still  in  exUtence,  42  men  were  killed,  or  died  of  their  wounds 
shortly  nOer  the  battle,  and  41  were  wounded.  This  would 
make  a  total  of  83,  for  thia  portion  of  the  crew,  which  on  the 
roll  amounted  to  287  souls.  But  many  of  tho  persons  named 
on  this  list  are  known  not  to  have  been  in  the  action  at  allj 
such  as  neither  of  tho  junior  lieutenants,  and  some  thirty 


njuAWIBMai 


<m 


itmatiti 


tiim 

)  vftcuum, 
pis,  at  the 
uinl  with- 
tbvateni- 
h«r.  All 
below  the 
kved  thoao 
f  of  tuffi* 
ct. 

every  one 
ort,  in  tho 
39  was  ad- 
liiiund  mo- 
nco.  Tho 
;  day  weru 
about  nino 
rgo  of  the 
wuter  had 
n.  About 
pive  a  roll, 

1,  the  guns 
enctid;  but 
nuun-inaat 
,  Though 
\y  helpless, 
:he  remains 
I  Texel,  the 

pis,  an  unu> 
ir  authentic 
).    Captain 

00  in  killed 
very  nearly 
ration,  or  at 

1  of  the  orf!i- 
rines,  which 
heir  wounds 
This  would 
rhich  on  the 
■sons  named 
ction  at  all ; 
)  thirty  nco 


WIN 


NAVAL    HIITOR  V. 


103 


that  were  with  thorn,  besides  those  abficnt  in  prizes.  As  there 
were  a  few  voluntocrs  on  lK)ard,  however,  who  wore  not  mus- 
tered, if  we  set  down  UUO  as  the  number  of  tho  portion  of  tho 
ntgular  crew  that  was  in  tlie  action,  wo  shall  probably  not  be 
far  from  the  truth.  By  estimating  tho  soldiers  that  remained 
on  board  at  V20,  and  observing  tho  sanne  pru|)ortion  for  their 
casualties,  we  shall  get  40  for  the  result,  which  will  make  a 
total  of  I'M,  as  tho  entire  loss  of  ihu  Kichanl.  It  is  known, 
however,  that,  in  the  commencement  of  the  action,  the  soldiers, 
or  marines,  suffered  out  of  proportion  to  the  rest  of  the  crew, 
and  general  report  having  made  tho  gross  losa  of  the  Richard 
164)  men,  we  are  dis|X)sed  to  believe  that  it  was  not  flu  fttxn 
the  fact. 

Captain  Foarson  re|Kirtcd  a  part  of  his  loss  at  117  men, 
admitting  at  the  same  time,  that  there  were  many  kiikxl  and 
wounded  whose  names  he  could  not  discover.  It  is  probable 
that  the  loss  of  nten,  in  the  two  ships,  was  about  equal,  and 
that  nearly  or  quite  half  of  all  those  who  wore  engaged,  were 
either  killed  or  wounded.  Comm<Mloro  Jones,  in  a  private  let- 
ter, written  some  time  after  tho  occirrcnce,  gives  an  opinion, 
however,  that  the  loss  of  the  Richard  was  less  than  that  of  the 
Seraois.  That  two  vessels  of  so  much  force  should  lie  lashed 
together  more  than  two  hours,  making  use  of  artillery,  mus- 
ketry, and  all  the  other  means  of  annoyance  known  to  the 
warfare  of  the  day,  and  not  do  even  greater  injury  to  the 
crews,  strikes  us  with  astonishment;  but  the  fkct  must  be 
aacribed  to  the  peculiarities  of  the  combat,  which,  by  driving 
most  of  the  English  under  cover,  and  by  keepins  the  Ameri- 
cans above  the  Tine  of  fire,  protected  each  party  from  the  mis- 
siles of  the  other.  As  it  was,  it  proved  a  murderoua  and 
sbnguinary  conflict,  tlmugh  its  duration  wou)d  probably  have 
been  much  shorter,  and  its  character  still  more  bloody,  but  for 
these  unusual  circumstances. 


104 


NATAL    HIITOKT. 


(UM. 


CHAPTER  X. 


Tub  arrivtl  of  Paul  Jonea,  in  HolUnd,  exritnl  a  attmt  dtttl 
of  interoat  in  tho  diplomatic  world.  Th«  Kngliah  (Icmundsd 
that  Iho  priaoncri  should  ba  raioaaod,  and  that  Jonea  hiinaelf 
•hould  be  given  up  aa  a  pirate.  The  Dutch  government, 
though  wolldiapoacd  to  flivour  the  Americana,  waa  not  pre- 
pared for  WKr,  and  it  waa  induced  to  tomporiae.  A  long  cor- 
reapondcnco  rollowod,  which  terminated  in  one  of  thoao  politi- 
cal oxpodionta  that  are  to  common,  and  in  which  tho  pains 
and  pvnaltioB  of  avowing  the  truth  are  avoided  by  means  of 
a  niysliflcatton.  The  Serapia,  which  had  boon  re-masted  and 
Muipped,  was  tranaferrod  to  Prance,  as  waa  the  Scarborough, 
while  Cummodore  Junes  took  commond  of  tho  Alliance,  (zap- 
tain  Landais  having  boon  suspended,  and  waa  ordered  to  quit 
the  country. 

The  Allianee  went  to  sea  on  th(  97th  of  December,  1779, 
and  reached  the  roads  of  Oroix  again,  in  saftty,  on  ihe  10th 
or  February,  1780.  She  paased  down  the  Channel,  vaa  near 
enough  to  the  squadron  in  tho  Downs  to  examine  its  fcrcc,  waa 
aevoral  times  chased,  and  made  a  short  cruise  in  the  Bay  of 
Biscay,  after  having  touched  in  Spain.  Captain  Conyngham, 
who  had  been  captured  in  a  privateer  and  cacaped,  joined  the 
Alliance,  and  went  round  to  rOrient  in  the  ship. 

Although  it  will  be  anticipatinf|  the  eventa  of  another  year, 
we  shall  nniah  the  history  of  this  voaael,  so  far  aa  she  wcs 
connected  with  the  officer  who  first  commanded  her,  Captaia 
Landais.  This  gentleman  had  been  aent  for  to  Paris,  to  ac* 
ooont  for  hk  ooniduct  to  the  American  minister,  and  subae- 
quently  his  claim  to  command  the  Alliance  was  reiened  to 
Mr.  Arthur  Lee,  who  was  on  tho  spot,  and  who  bad  long  been 
in  Europe,  as  a  conspicuous  agent  of  tiie  goremment.  The 
dociaion  of  this  commissioner  restored  the  Alliance  to  Captain 
Ijaodaia,  on  the  ground  that  his  command  having  been  given 
to  him  by  the  higheat  authoritv  of  the  country,  a  voto  of  Con- 
greas,  he  could  not  legally  be  ooprived  of  it  bv  any  subordinate 
aut|tority.  In  June,  Captain  I^andais  sailed  in  the  ship  for 
America,  where  she  was  given  to  an  officer  better  fitted  to 
ahow  her  excellent  qualitica,  and  who,  in  the  end,  suaceeded  in 


■iMM 


IITM. 


I1M] 


NAVAL     HIITOET. 


105 


niiig  her  charactar.  During  th«  |ia«Mgn  home,  ("apUin 
L«n«l«ia  wna  iio|HNml  (mm  Ihn  oommniiil,  un<lnr  iImi  u\rm  that 
ho  waa  iiiMiin,  and  aurni  nflii.  he  wn*  diachurxtrd  from  (h« 
navy.  It  u  thought  that  tho  aharnco  or  (ximiniwlore  Joiwa, 
•iono,  provitntDd  hia  raoniving  anvorer  puniahiwnt. 

(Jommodora  Joium,  aniioua  to  giH  back  to  America,  took 
eoininand  of  the  Ariel  'M,  a  little  ahip  that  tlu;  king  of  France 
lent  to  hia  alliea,  to  aid  in  trnna|i<irting  military  atorea;  and 
in  thia  vntael,  with  a  portion  of  the  offirt^ra  and  mtm  who  had 
belonged  to  the  Richard,  ho  aailod  from  under  Groix  on  th« 
7th  or  Sttptnmbor.  When  a  day  or  two  out,  the  Ariel  oncoun* 
torcd  a  aevore  gale,  in  which  ahe  came  near  being  loat.  The 
ahip  waa  ao  preaaed  upon  by  the  wind,  that  her  lower  yard« 
arma  fref^tently  dipped,  and  though  an  anchor  waa  let  go,  ah* 
reAiaed  te  tend  to  >t.  In  order  to  keen  her  from  foundering, 
the  foro>maat  waa  cut  away,  and  the  Keel  of  the  main-nwurt 
having  worked  out  of  the  atep,  that  apar  followed,  brnging 
down  with  it  the  mizxon-maat. 

Returning  to  I'Orient  to  rafit,  the  Ariel  aailed  a  aecond  time 
for  America,  on  the  18th  of  December.  During  the  paooage, 
ahe  fell  in  with  an  enemy  of  about  her  own  aize,  in  the  night, 
and  after  much  converaation,  a  abort  combat  followed,  when 
the  Engliah  ahip  intimated  that  ahe  had  atruok,  but  taking  ad- 
vantage of  her  pooition,  ahe  made  oeil  and  eaoaped.  dome 
unaccountable  miotake  waa  made  by,  or  an  extraordinary  haU 
lucinatbn  appear*  to  have  come  over  Comnndora  Jonea,  in 
reference  to  thta  aflhir  {  for,  in  hia  journal,  he  ipeaxa  of  hk 
enemy  aa  having  been  an  Engliah  twenty-gun  ahip  called  tlie 
Triumph,  and  the  reault  aa  a  victory.  Tlw  Triumph,  if  auch 
waa  truly  the  name  of  Uie  Engliah  ahip,  waa  probablv  a  leHer 
of  marque,  unable  to  leaiat  a  veaael  or  war  of  any  nroe,  and 
though  not  firee  fWim  the  imputation  of  treachery,  ahe  eaoaped 
by  out-m«n<Buvring  the  Ariel.  On  the  16th  of  February, 
1761,  after  an  aboence  of  more  than  three  yeara,  Paul  Jonei 
leaohed  Philadelphia  in  aaibiy. 

Before  we  return  to  the  Annrican  oeaa,  end  to  the  more 
regular  incidenta  of  the  year  1779,  we  will  add  that,  after  an 
ia4|uirv  into  the  conduct  of  Captain  Jonea,  aa  it  waa  connected 
with  all  hia  prooeedinga  in  Europe,  Ccmgreea  gave  him  a  vote 
of  thanka,  and,  by  a  formal  reaolution,  mMowm!  on  him  the 
commaad  of  the  America  74,  the  only  one  of  the  aix  ahipa  of 
that  claaa  that  waa  ever  laid  down  under  the  law  of  1T70. 
The  Amerioe  never  got  to  oea  under  the  national  colours,  Ck>n* 


106 


JIAVAI,     MI«TO«V, 


Mm 


EM  prrwntind  tbct  •hip  io  Iheir  allv.  Loub  XV|„  in 
M»gMili<jii«  74,  which  lw<l  liwn  Uv  t  iii  thn  piirt  <.  IkMton. 
Tu  rvturti  tu  tho  more  rvgular  ord«r  •  .  v  'nl«. 
Duriim  tho  •Mmnwr  of  n7tt,  Iha  l>Ma.iM  4U,  CaiiUin  N«miMl 
NkbolwMi,  and  (h«  lluatmi  'J4,  l!aptain  Tucker.  nmU^  «  cruia* 
la  oomimity.  tn  August  of  (hal  ymt,  ihflM  Iwu  ahipa  hmli 
nwny  |irii««,  (hough  tut  nclion  of  nxtmrnt  oc«nirn'«l.  Among 
o(bnr*  were  ibe  Handwioh  (n  imrkfl,)  16,  Iwo  privateer*,  wilfi 
lb«  (Ikncmim  'M,  mud  (he  Thorn  l«.  Th»  lurt  of  theM  vrg. 
mU  wu  n  man-of'Wa  . 

In  tlm  aprinK  of  this  year,  tlw  Providence  19,  CapUio 
llacknr,  tiK>k  n,  v«wai'l  of  <H|ual  force,  lalieii  the  I)ili|(en(,  after 
a  aliarp  ardon.  Thn  particulani  of  ihia  eni^agenietit  are  loal, 
though  they  are  known  U>  have  hocn  highly  creditable  to  ih«i 
Amanoaa  officer.  The  Diligent  appears  to  havo  beea  Ukea 
into  the  aervioe. 

A  bl<KMly  action  alao«HTurrr«l,  aJiout  the  ■•me  time,  between 
tho  Maiia(uhiiwt»«iitat«-<^na»i'r  llnxard  14,  Captain  John  Foati^r 
Williama,  and  tne  Active  14.  a  voaai?!  that  S<homJ»nrg  atatra  to 
liave  belongetl  to  the  king.  The  combat  luated  half  an  hour, 
and  waa  determined  in  flivour  of  the  HaMrd.  The  Active  ia  aaid 
to  havn  had  93  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  flaurd  H.  Shortly 
after  thia  bandaomo  aflair.  Captain  Williama  waa  appointed  to 
tho  ahip  Protector  'JO,  bolonjjing  to  thi;  aanw  state,  and  in  JuiM 
he  had  ■  Mvura  action  with  one  of  thoae  heavy  leltera  of 
marque  U  waa  ao  much  the  cuatom  to  aend  to  aea,  at  the  period 
of  which  we  are  writing,  called  the  DuflT;  a  ahip  aaid  to  have 
been  quite  oquni  in  <orce  to  the  Protector.  After  a  sharp  con- 
test  or  mor«-  hc-r,  the  Duff  blew  up.    The  Protector 

succeeded  in  •!">        ■  '    f  her  crew,  Sa»ing  ht.J  «>  of  bar  own 
people  kill*!  d  «l  scm     I  in  the  ba.^ ;. 

The  enetuy  ik.viag  esutbliahed  a  port  on  the  PMiobwiot,  and 
placed  in  it  a  strong  garrison,  the  Slat*  of  Massachusetto  d«> 
termined  to  drive  thorn  from  its  territory,  without  calling  upon 
Congreaa  for  assistance.  For  this  purpose,  MaaaachusetU 
made  a  draft  of  1500  of  her  own  militw,  and  got  an  order  for 
the  U.8.  ship  Warren  au.  Captain  SaltoostaU,  the  Diligent  14, 
CapUin  Brown,  and  the  Providence  12.  Captain  Hacker,  to 
join  the  expedition ;  these  being  the  oaly  lesular  cruisers  em* 
ployed  on  tho  occasion.  Three  veseela  belonging  to  Massa. 
ehusetts  were  also  put  under  thu  orders  of  Captain  Saltonstall, 
ud  a  force  consisting  of  thirteen  privateers  wae  added,    ia 


mi 


pg^^^«ji^j^^,jjiBMiBiAbUHbiMapHrai||a 


ftm 

[^  (n  rvpUro 
ft  (M  UwUMi. 

tUin  Nnmwl 
miIm  «  cruiae 
II  ahipa  ItMik 
«<ii.  AiiMiiiK 
vaUwra,  with 
of  itiMo  vrs* 

IS,  CspUin 
)iliKnnl,  afliir 
nriit  am  loal, 
<li(abl«  to  thn 

0  been  ukeu 

time,  between 
It  John  Fiwior 
iberg  itatee  to 
i«ir  an  hour, 
Active  ia  aaiii 
rdH.  Shortly 

1  appointed  to 
9,  and  in  JuiM 
ivy  leltorn  of 
,  at  the  period 

aaid  to  have 
'  a  iharp  con- 
rhe  Protector 
a  of  her  own 

*enobacot,  and 
lachuMtta  de* 
I  caliing  upon 
Maaaachuaetta 
t  an  order  for 
e  Diligent  14, 
in  Huker,  to 
r  cruianra  end- 
ing to  Maaaa* 
in  Saltonstail, 
18  added,    ia 


nn. 


NAVAL    NliTORT. 


107 


(}c>a. 


addition  Ihero  were  many  lran«p>*rt4  and  ■iorr-vean^U. 
enil  I.4)vcl  (-MfniiMniird  fhn  brigaile. 

Thm  arniaiiwnl  inndn  il«  np|i«<flrnii«:«i  oH*  thn  IVnobacnt  on 
th«i  flSih  (if  July.  While  th«  militia  wenn  innking  th«ir  dowMil, 
the  Warren,  and  anothor  vnaarl  of  •omo  fvtcm,  rngni^i  th* 
enemy'a  worka.  The  (-anncNMilinu  waa  aovere,  and  thin  Wafa 
ntn  ia  aaid  to  hnvii  hnd  <iO  ini"<  iiiiUtl  and  wouiitknl,  in  (he 
aclion  with  the  Ijalturirii,  and  in  landing  lh«t  triMiiM.  'l'\v>  laltnr 
duty,  however,  waa  aurceaarully  ptirrornxrd  by  U<<nflral  I<ovel, 
with  a  loM  of  itmut  (»iin  hundntl  iiH^n,  iiu^ludiiig  all  arma. 
Finding  it  im|MM«ihlti  to  carry  llwi  iilnct)  with  hia  prraent  liircn, 
the  commamling  utliwr  iw»w  wnt  lor  mnfotvt^nwnUi .  (>n  the 
13lh  of  Augimt,  while  waiting  fur  n  return  of  the  nwwaiinger, 
inrornmtiiin  wna  m-rivod  fWiin  the  Tyrannicidn,  the  look-out 
vrssrl,  that  Mtr  IJeorgn  lAtllicr,  in  tho  Kainbow  44,  accum- 
pnnted  by  four  other  veaaela  of  war,  waa  entering  the  bay. 
The  tmofM  immctdiatfly  re-emliarkrHi,  and  a  gnneral,  hurried, 
and  cunfuMHl  flight  piwimhI.  'l'h«  Itrituh  mjundron,  »)niiiating 
of  live  vriwrU  uf  war,  quirkly  nppnared,  and  n  tiurauit  up  the 
river  waa  connnmictnl,  and  cuntinu«Mi  for  a  long  distance.  The 
enemy  aoon  got  near  enough  to  iiae  their  chaae  guna,  and  the 
Are  waa  returned  by  thn  Americana.  It  waa  undoubtedly  the 
wiah  of  Captain  Haltonatall,  to  reach  the  ahallow  wat«ra  befora 
he  waa  overtaken ;  but  finding  thia  impracticablo,  ho  ran  hia 
ahip  aahom,  and  aet  hor  on  (ire.  ( hhera  followed  thia  oxamitie, 
ana  moat  of  the  voaaels  were  deatntyed,  though  three  or  rour 
ftll  into  the  handa  of  the  enemy. 

Captain  Haltonatall  waa  muchi  and,  in  aome  reapecta,  per- 
ha}w,  jualiy  cenaurod,  for  Ihia  dioaater,  though  it  ia  to  be  finred 
that  it  aroae  mora  fVom  that  habit  of  publicH]*,  which  ia  com- 
mon to  all  countriea  much  influenced  by  popular  feeling,  than 
from  any  other  cauae.  Had  a  due  regard  been  paid  to  oecrriy, 
time  might  have  been  gained  in  that  remote  region,  to  ef^t 
the  object,  bifore  a  aufficient  force  coald  be  collected  to  go 
•gainat  the  aaaailanta.  In  a  roilitarpr  aenae,  the  principal  faufia 
appear  to  have  been  a  miachlculation  of  moana,  at  the  com- 
mencement, and  a  neglect  to  raiae  aueh  batteriea  aa  might  have 
rirotected  the  ahipping  a^inat^  the  heavy  veaaela  of  the  enemy, 
t  ooidd  not  ourely  have  been  thought  that  privateeni,  armed 
with  light  gima,  were  able  to  reaiat  two.deckera ;  and  the  ftet 
that  the  Bi^iah  had  a  fleet  of  auch  veaaela  on  the  coaat  waa 
generally  known. 

The  diaaatroua  reault  of  thia  expedition  inflicted  a  aevere  blow 


im 


108 


NATAL     HISTORY 


[1700 


OH  Amarican  nautical  enturpriseB.  Many  privateera  and  state 
vessels,  that  hod  bten  successful  against  tha  enemy's  com- 
merce, were  either  captured  or  destroyed.  Among  the  vessels 
blown  up,  was  the  Providence  12,  one  of  the  first  cruisers  ever 
sent  to  sea  by  the  United  Statcj,  and  which  had  become  rjoted 
for  exploiti  greatly  exceeding  what  might  have  been  expected 
firom  her  force. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

At  the  commenoeraent  of  the  yair  1780,  the  French  fleet 
under  Comte  d'Estaing  retired  to  the  West-Indieo,  lea,ving  the 
entire  Anaerican  coast  at  the  conunand  of  the  British.  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  profited  by  the  opportunity  to  sail  against 
Charleston,  with  a  btrong  force  in  ships  and  troops,  which 
town  he  reduced  after  a  short  but  vioorous  siege.  Several 
American  ships  of  war  were  in  the  harbour  at  the  time,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Whipple,  and  finding  escape  impoa* 
sible,  this  otRcet  carried  his  squadron  into  the  Cooper,  sunk 
several  vessels  at  its  mouth,  and  landed  all  the  guns  and  crews 
for  the  def.^nce  of  the  town,  with  the  exception  of  thone  of  one 
ship.  The  Providence  88,  Captain  Whipple,  the  Queen  of 
France  88,  Captain  Rathbume,  the  Boston  34,  Captain  Tuek« 
er,  the  Ranger  18,  Captain  Simpson,  and  several  smaller  vea* 
sels,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  «Mmy. 

The  English  oovemment,  by  this  time,  found  the  system  c€ 
privateering  so  ^ructive  to  their  navigatkm,  that  it  had  oone 
to  the  determination  of  refiinng  to  exchange  any  more  of  the 
«mmen  that  fell  into  their  power.  By  actinff  on  thi»  p(^y» 
tlsey  collected  a  large  body  of  prisoners,  sending  them  to  Eng. 
land  in  their  return-ships,  and  sensibly  aftcted  the  nautical 
enterprises  of  the  Americans,  who,  of  course,  had  but  a  limit* 
ed  number  of  officers  and  men  fit  to  act  on  the  ocean. 

By  the  fall  of  Charleston,  too,  the  force  of  the  regular  Ame> 
rican  marine,  small  as  it  had  always  been,  was  still  inoie  !•• 
duced.  Of  the  frigates,  the  Alliance  83,  the  Hague  (late 
Deane)  32,  Confederacy  32,  Trumbull  38,  and  a  ship  or  tw9 
bought  or  borrowed  in  Europe,  appear  to  be  all  that  were  left* 


llMMiil 


[1760 

ra  and  state 
emy'a  com- 
;  the  vewels 
:ruiaeni  ever 
scome  noted 
)en  expected 


1780.] 


NAVAL    HIBTORT. 


109 


French  fleet 
>  leaving  the 
Britiah.  Sir 
aail  against 
roops,  which 
pi.  Several 
I  time,  under 
icape  impos- 
hooper,  sunk 
AS  and  crews 
thoMofone 
le  Queen  of 
iptain  Tuck* 
smaller  vea* 

Im  system  of 
tit  had  come 
more  of  the 
I  this  policy, 
Ihem  to  Bag* 
the  nautical 
1  but  a  limit* 
»an. 

resular  Ame* 
till  more  re* 
Hague  (lat» 
ship  or  twoi 
M  were  left* 


while  the  smaller  cruisers,  like  the  pitcher  that  is  broken  by 
going  too  oden  to  the  well,  had  not  farc<i  much  better. 

In  consequence  of  all  these  losses,  the  advanced  state  of  the 
war,  and  the  French  alliance,  which  had  brought  the  fleets  of 
France  upon  the  American  coast,  Congress  appears  to  have 
thought  any  great  efforts  for  increasing  the  marine  unneces- 
sary at  the  moment.  The  privateers  and  state  cruisers  were 
out  and  active  as  usual,  though  much  reduced  in  numbers,  and 
consequently  in  general  ciBcieocy.  In  contrast  to  these  di- 
minished efforts  we  find  the  British  Parliament  authorizing  the 
ministry  to  keep  no  less  than  86,000  men  employed  in  the 
English  navy,  including  the  marines. 

The  first  action  of  moment  that  occurcd  this  year  between 
any  United  States'  vessel  and  the  enemy,  nevertheless,  has 
the  reputation  of  having  been  one  of  the  most  hotly  and  obsti- 
nately contested  combats  of  the  war.  June  2d,  1780,  the 
Trumbull  38,  then  under  the  command  of  Captam  James  Ni* 
cholson,  the  senior  officer  of  the  navy,  while  cruising  in  lat. 
S6°  54',  long.  66°  W.,  made  a  strange  sail  to  windward  iVom 
the  masUheads.  The  Trumbull  immediately  furled  all  her 
canvass,  in  the  hope  of  drawing  the  stmnger  down  upon  her 
liefore  she  should  bo  seen.  At  eleven,  the  stranger  was  made 
out  to  be  a  large  ship,  steering  for  the  Trumbull's  quarter; 
but  soon  haulins  more  astern,  sail  was  got  on  the  American 
ship  to  close.  After  some  manoeuvring,  in  order  to  try  the 
rate  of  sailing  and  to  get  a  view  of  the  stranger's  broadside, 
the  Trumbull  took  in  her  WgjM.  sails,  hauled  up  her  courses, 
the  chase  all  this  time  betrayiiw  no  desire  to  avoid  an  action, 
but  standing  directly  for  her  acberaary.  Wben  near  enough, 
the  Trumbull  filled,  and  outsailing  the  strangur,  she  easily 
fetched  to  windward  of  her.  The  chase  now  fired  three  guns, 
showed  Ec^iiurii  colours,  and  edged  away,  under  short  sail, 
evidently  with  an  mtmition  to  pursue  her  course.  Captain  Ni* 
cholson  harangued  his  men,  and  then  made  sail  to  bring  his 
ship  up  with  the  enemy.  When  about  a  hundred  yards  dis- 
tant, the  English  ship  fired  a  broadsido,  and  thr  action  began 
in  good  earnest.  For  two  hours  and  a  half  the  vcMels  lay 
nearly  abeam  of  each  other,  giving  and  receiving  broadsides 
without  intermisi^..  At  no  time  were  they  half  a  cableHi 
leitfth  asunder,  and  ratMfe  than  tmoe  the  yards  nearly  inter* 
looked.  Twice  was  the  Trumbull  set  on  fire  by  the  wads  of 
hw  opponent,  and  once  the  enemy  sufihred  in  the  same  way. 
10 


iii'tiii    ai  mi* 


110 


NATAL     HIBTORY. 


tlTW 


At  last  the  firo  of  the  Englishman  slackened  sensibly,  until  it 
nearly  ceased. 

Captain  Nicholson  now  felt  satisfied  that  he  should  make  o 
prize  of  his  antagonist,  and  was  encouraging  his  people  with 
that  hope,  when  n  rcprt  was  brought  to  him,  that  the  main- 
mast was  tottering,  and  that  if  it  went  while  near  the  enemy, 
his  ship  would  probably  be  the  sacrifice.  Anxious  to  secure 
the  spar,  sail  was  made,  and  the  Trumbull  shot  ahead  again, 
her  superiority  of  sailing  being  very  decided.  She  was  soon 
clear  of  her  adversary,  who  made  no  effort  to  molest  her. 
The  vessels,  however,  were  scarcely  musket-shot  apart,  when 
the  main  and  mizzen  top-maste  of  the  Trumbull  went  over  the 
side,  and,  in  spite  of  every  eftbrt  to  secure  them,  spar  after 
■par  came  down,  until  nothing  was  left  but  the  fore-mast. 
Under  such  circumstances,  the  enemy,  who  manifested  no 
desire  to  profit  by  her  advantage,  went  off  on  her  proper 
oourae.  Before  she  was  out  of  sight,  her  main  top-mast  also 
was  seen  to  fall. 

It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  the  ship  en^ged  by  the 
Trumbull  was  a  letter  of  marque  called  the  Watt,  Captain 
Couhhan],  a  vessel  of  size,  that  had  been  emreasly  equipped 
to  fight  her  way,  Her  farce  is  not  mentioned  in  the  Engish 
accounts,  but  her  commander,  in  his  narrative  of  the  tmir, 
in  which  he  claims  the  victory,  admits  his  loss  to  have  been 
03  men,  in  killed  and  wounded.  Captain  Nicholson  estimates 
her  force  at  84  or  86  guns,  mostly  twelve-pounders ;  and  he 
states  that  of  the  Trumbull  to  have  been  24  twelve-pounders 
and  6  sixes,  with  199  socta  on  board  when  the  acUon  com- 
menced. The  Trumbull  lost  39,  in  killed  and  wounded, 
among  the  former  of  whom  were  two  of  her  lieutenants. 

In  the  way  of  a  r^Uur  cannonade,  this  combat  is  generally 
Oought  to  have  been  the  severest  that  was  fought  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  There  b  no  auestion  of  tbe  superiority  of 
the  Watt  in  every  thing  but  sailing,  she  havrog  bem  essan- 
tioUy  the  largest  and  strongest  ship,  besideB  carrjriflg  more 
guns  and  men  than  bur  o^qniMnt.  Owing  to  the  difficulty  of 
obtaining  seamen,  which  has  beeis  so  oftwi  mentioned,  the 
Trumbuirs  crew  Trzz  composed,  in  a  gwat  degree,  of  raw 
hands,  and  Captair  Nicholson  states  paitieularly  that  many 
of  his  people  w«re  auflbring  under  ■eaiMcknew  when  Omif 
went  to  their  guns. 

This  action  was  not  followed  by  another,  of  any  mmortnnM, 
in  which  a  gortnunent  oruiMr  was  oonoemed,  until  tiw  moalh 


atana 


[1760 
sibly,  until  it 

lould  make  a 
s  people  with 
lat  the  main* 
r  the  enemy, 
)U8  to  secure 
ahead  again, 
3he  waa  soon 
)  molest  her. 
t  apart,  when 
went  over  the 
m,  spar  after 
he  fore-mast, 
nanifested  no 
n  her  proper 
top-mast  also 

tmged  by  the 
watt,  Captain 
issly  equipped 
1  the  Ensiish 
or  the  affltir, 
to  have  been 
liaon  estimates 
iders;  and  he 
relve^pounders 
B  action  com- 
and  wounded, 
itenants. 
at  is  generally 
[ht  in  the  war 
superiority  of 
g  been  essan- 
iarrTtag  more 
le  diffioilty  of 
nentioned,  the 
legree,  of  raw 
rlythat  many 
m  whea  tlwy 

ny  inuMttMiBB, 
omtUtteBMBlh 


1781.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


Ill 


of  October,  when  the  U.  S.  sloop  of  war  Saratoga  16,  Captain 
Young,  fell  in  with,  and  captured  a  ship  and  two  brigs,  the 
former,  and  one  of  the  latter  of  which,  wore  well  armed.  The 
conflict  with  the  ship,  which  was  called  the  Charming  Molly, 
was  conducted  with  a  spirit  and  promptitude  that  are  deserv- 
ing of  notice.  Running  alongside,  Captain  Young  delivered 
his  fire,  and  threw  fifty  men  on  the  enemy's  decks,  when  a 
fierce  but  short  struggle  ensued,  that  ended  in  the  capture  of 
the  British  ship.  Lieutenant  Joshua  Bamoy,  afterwards  so 
distinguished  in  the  service,  led  the  boarders  on  this  occasion  i 
and  the  crew  that  he  overcame  is  said  to  have  been  nearly 
double  in  numbers  to  his  own  party. 

After  making  these  and  one  other  capture,  the  Saratoga 
made  sail  for  the  Capes  of  the  Delaware,  with  the  intention  of 
convoying  her  prizes  into  port.  The  following  day,  however, 
the  convoy  was  chased  by  the  Intrepid  74,  Captain  Molioy, 
which  ship  retook  all  the  prizes,  but  was  unable  to  get  the 
Saratoga  under  her  guns.  It  is  said,  and  we  find  no  evidence 
to  contradict  it,  that  the  Saratoga  never  returned  to  port,  the 
vessel  foundering,  and  her  crew  perishing  at  sea,  unhc  rd  of. 

The  brevity  of  the  regular  naval  annals  of  the  three  last 
years  of  the  war,  compels  us  to  oompresa  their  incidents  into 
a  sinffle  chapter. 

It  has  been  stated  already  that  Captain  Landais  was  dis- 
missed firom  the  service  soon  after  his  return  home,  when  the 
command  of  the  Alliance  88  was  given  to  Captain  John  Barry, 
the  officer  who  had  made  so  mlTant  a  resistance  in  the  &•• 

ah,  not  long  previously.  In  February,  1781,  Captain  Barry 
»d  fh>m  Boston  for  France,  in  command  of  this  favourite 
ship,  with  Colonel  Laurens  on  board,  which  well-known  and 
much-regrMted  young  dScer  waa  charged  with  an  inqprnlant 
miasMn  to  the  French  court.  On  the  outward  passage,  the 
Alliance  captured  a  small  privateer  called  the  Aknt,lNit  no 
event  of  any  moment  ooeurred.  After  landing  Mr.  Laurens, 
tJw  fiwale  sMled  firom  VOnettl  oo  a  cruiee,  wfth  the  Mai^ 
de  la  Fkyette  40,  bound  to  America  with  skMesr  in  oompuiy. 
Thiee  days  aftarwards,  or  on  die  »d  of  A|ml,  1781,  H^  Ml 
in  with  and  captured  two  Guernsey  privateeta,  one  of  Wiuch, 
the  Man,  is  said  to  have  been  a  heavy  vessel  of  26  guns  and 
lis  maa,  and  the  other,  the  MinerTa,  to  hate  bad  an  aim. 
—wt  of  10  gam,  and  a  erew  of  05  souls.    )Neither  of  Iksat 


anpears  to  have  nade  any  reaistanee. 
AAar  tfiis  auooen,  tlw  AlUaooe  parted  oonpany  with 


■Wtka 


113 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[1781 


cofuort  and  the  prizes,  and  continued  to  cnii«e  until  the  aSlh 
of  May,  when  she  made  two  sail,  that  were  atanding  directly 
for  her.    It  was  late  in  the  day,  and  the  strangers,  when  near 
enough  to  remain  in  sight  during  the  darkness  hauled  up  on 
the  same  course  with  the  Alliance,  evidently  with  a  view  to 
defer  the  action  until  morning.    At  daylight  on  the  •uc<»ea- 
ing  day,  it  was  nearly  a  dead  calm,  and  when  the  mist  cleared 
away,  the  two  strangers  wore  seen  at  no  great  distance,  with 
Engliih  colours  flying.    They  were  now  distinctly  made  out 
to  be  a  sloop  of  war  apparently  of  16  guns,  and  a  brig  of  14. 
The  sea  was  perfectly  smooth,  and  there  being  no  wmd,  the 
two  light  cruisers  were  enabled  to  sweep  up,  and  to  select  their 
poMdons,  while  the  Alliance  lay  almost  a  log  on  the  water, 
without  steerage  way.    Owing  to  theee  circumstances,  it  was 
noon  before  the  vessels  were  near  enough  to  hail,  when  the 
action  commenced.     For  more  than  an  hour  the  Alliance 
fought  to  great  disadvantage,  the  enemy  having  got  on  her 
quarters,  where  only  a  few  of  the  aftermost  guns  would  bear 
on  them.    The  advantage  possessed  by  the  English  ves^ls, 
in  consequence  of  the  calm,  at  one  time,  mdeed,  gave  their 
people  the  greatest  hopes  of  success,  for  they  had  th<    fight 
principdly  to  themselves.    While  things  were  in  this  unfortu- 
nate sUte,  Captain  Barry  received agnpe-shot  through  his 
shoulder,  and  was  carried  below.    'Was  additional  and  dis- 
heartening  calamity  added  to  the  disadvantages  of  the  Amen- 
cans,  who  were  sufifaring  under  the  close  fire  of  two  spirited 
and  persevering  antagonisto.    Indeed,  so  confident  of  ■»<»»« 
did  the  enemy  now  appear  to  be,  that  when  the  ensign  of  the 
Allianoe  was  shot  away,  this  fiwjt,  coupled  with  ttie  neoesaary 
riacknesa  of  her  fire,  ioduoed  their  people  to  quit  their  guns, 
and  give  three  cheers  for  victory.   This  ooourred  at  a  moment 
when  a  light  tHreese  struck  the  Alliance's  mUs,  and  she  came 
(hiriy  unSr  steerage  way.    A  aingie  broadside  fitwm  a  man- 
ageable  sldp  chao«d  the  entire  state  of  the  oonbat,  and  sent 
the  emtmy  to  thw  guns,  asaiOt  with  a  oonvieOoii  tpaX  their 
work  yet  remained  to  be  done.    Aft«r  a  manly  resutance. 
Loth  the  English  vessels,  in  the  end,  were  oonpeUed  to  haul 
down  their  ooloun.  >«.«._• 

The  priws  proved  to  he  the  Atatanta  16,  Captain  Bdwanto, 
with  a  crew  of  180  roeo,  and  the  Tiepassy  14,  Captain  Snutb, 
with  a  crew  erf"  60  men.  Both  veasds  were  much  cut  up,  awl 
they  sustained  a  joint  loss  of  41  men  in  killed  and  wouode^ 
The  Allianoe  did  not  escape  with  impunity,  having  had  11 


C 


BUM 


itaw 


[1781 

intil  the  38th 
ding  directly 
a,  wImo  near 
bauled  up  on 
ith  a  view  to 
the  succeed- 
I  mist  cleared 
liatance,  with 
tly  made  out 
a  bris|  of  14. 

no  wind,  the 
to  select  their 
on  the  water, 
tances,  it  was 
ail,  when  the 

the  Alliance 
g  got  on  her 
IS  would  bear 
islish  vessels, 
id,  gave  their 
bad  thi  Aght 
1  this  unibrtu* 
;  through  his 
onal  and  dis- 
of  the  Ameri- 
f  two  spirited 
ent  of  success 

ensign  of  the 
the  neoessary 
lut  their  guns, 
d  at  a  moDient 
and  she  came 
)  firomainan* 
nbet,  and  sent 
Ikn  t)>at  their 
Dly  resiitanoe, 
■pdledto  haul 

ttain  Edwards, 
[!Bptain  Smilbt 
oh  cut  up,  and 
and  wounded, 
having  had  11 


mi.i 


NATAL     HI8T0K7. 


113 


killed  and  31  wounded,  prinoipallv  by  the  are  of  her  enemies, 
while  they  lay  on  her  quarter  and  across  her  stem.  Captain 
Barr^  made  a  cartel  of  the  Trepassv,  and  sent  her  into  an 
English  port  with  the  prisoners }  but  the  Atalanta  was  retaken 
by  the  enemy's  sq'.uulron  that  was  cruising  off  Boston,  while 
attempting  to  enter  that  harbour. 

Fortune  now  became  capricious,  and  we  are  compelled  to 
present  the  other  side  of  the  picture.  Among  the  ships  built 
late  in  the  war,  was  the  Conftderaoy  88.  This  vessel  had 
been  launched  in  1778,  at  or  near  Norwich,  in  Connectiout ; 
and  the  command  of  her  was  given  to  Captaiil  Seth  Harding, 
the  officer  who  was  in  the  Defenoe  U,  in  the  aotkm  in  Nan* 
tasket  Roads  with  the  two  transports  oaptured  in  1770.  Cap. 
tain  Harding  had  been  commissioDed  in  the  navy,  in  whksh 
his  first  command  araears  to  have  been  this  ship.  The  C!oa. 
federacy  sailed  for  Europe  in  1770,  with  Mr.  Jay,  the  min- 
ister to  Spain,  on  boaard,  and  was  suddenly  dismasted,  a  little 
to  the  ea^ward  of  Bermuda.  Spar  followed  wptt,  in  this  en- 
lamity,  until  the  ship  lay  »  kg  on  the  water,  with  even  her 
bow^>rit  goM.  This,  Uke  so  many  rimilar  misfortunes  that 
have  suooeedDd  it,  must  probably  be  attributed  to  the  tijoM* 
having  slaoke^ed,  when  the  ship  got  into  a  warm  MtaStma 
having  been  set  up  in  oold  weather  at  home. 

AAer  several  anxious  weeks,  the  Conftderaoy  got  intolUrw 
tinique,  wbnre  Mr.  Jav  obtained  a  peaeage  in  the  Frenoh  Ai- 
gate  TAurofe,  awl  the  Anerioan  veaaai  femauMd  to  rsAt 
From  that  time  to  the  oommewMWHit  of  the  piesHtt  year,  the 
CoaAdenoy  was  employed,  Uke  meet  of  the  laife  vesaeb  of 
the  service  in  that  stageof  the  wnr,  iakeepiogopaa  theoon. 
munioatiaos  between  the  country  and  the  dSSImat  ports  wham 
sunpliaa  were  obtained,  and  in  transporting  etorsa^  Bariy  in 
178),  ebe  went  to  Cape  Francois,  and,  on  the  99d  of  June, 
whUe  op  her  return,  with  olothing  and  other  iuppliai  en  baud* 
and  wUh  a  coavov  in  oharge,  she  was  diaaed  by  a  brge  abip» 
wbieb  snooeeded  m  getting  alongnde  of  hei^  Captaia  H»M* 
.  ins  IwdgMMto  qiMfftoie,  aadvaa  ainut  toopanMi  ili%«lni 
the  enemy  lan  out  a  lower  tksr  of  guna,  and  a  ftigato  baiig  in 
oonpany  a  short  dietaaoeMtem,  the  Anerioan  atraok.  SiM«> 
ral  of  tM  oorivMT  weia  alio  taken. 

CMain  Nkhakton  oealianed  in  oeauaaad  of  tlia  TlonMlK 

aflar  Ut  aeveia  opafliftf  with  die  Watt,  and  wt  fM  Urn  $Aim 

agii|ninth«abip,iatlMianBBarofn81.    Om  left  the  Oiia. 

ware  on  the  8th  of  August,  wkh  a  crew  short  of  900  mm,  of 

10 


114 


NATAL     HIBTORT. 


[1781 


which  near  SO  were  of  the  questionable  matoriala  to  be  found 
among  the  pri*)nera  of  war.     She  had  a  convoy  of  twentv- 
eight  (Mill  and  a  heavy  ptivaieer  waa  in  company.    Off  the 
Capea,  the  Trumbull  nuuk  thrue  Britiah  cruiaera  aatern.    Two 
of  the  enamy,  one  of  which  was  a  frigate,  stood  for  the  Trum- 
bull, which  ahip,  by  hauling  up,  waa  enabled  to  gain  the  wind 
of  them.    Night  waa  near,  and  it  blew  heavily.    The  mer- 
ohantmen  began  to  diverge  from  the  course,  though,  by  carry- 
ing eaay  sail,  the  Trumbull  was  enabled  to  keep  most  of  them 
ahead,  and  in  their  atations.    While  standing  on  in  thia  man- 
ner, hopins  every  thing  from  the  darkness,  a  sauail  carried 
away  the  Trumbuira  foro-top-mast,  which  in  falling  brought 
down  with  it  the  main-top-gallant-maat.    As  the  weather  waa 
thick  and  squally,  the  vessels  in  company  of  the  Trumbull  took 
advantage  of  the  (Aacurity  and  scattered,  each  making  the  beat 
of  her  way  according  to  her  particular  rate  of  sailing.    The 
TnimbuU  huraelf  waa  compelled  to  bear  up,  in  order  to  carry 
the  canvass  necessary  to  eacape ;  but  with  the  wreck  over  her 
bowa,  and  a  craw  that  was  not  only  deficient  in  numbers,  but 
which  waa  raw,  and  in  part  disafibcted,  her  situation  became 
in  the  last  depee  embarrasainff.    Indeed,  her  condition  has 
been  deacribed  aa  being  ao  peeuliariv  dialreasing,  as  to  form  a 
atnng  instance  of  the  difficultiea  that  sometinMs  accompany 
naval  warfiiro.  .  .   ^  , 

About  ten  o'clock  at  night,  tSe  Britiah  flrigate  Ina  83,  one  of 
the  vessekin'ohaae,  ckised  with  the  Trumbull,  which  sbipi  on 
account  of  tba  heaviness  ci  the  weather,  had  not  yet  been  able 
10  ckiar  the  wrack.  In  the  midst  of  rain  and  squalls,  in  a  tem- 
pestuous ni^  with  most  oi  the  forward  hamper  of  the  ship 
over  her  bows,  or  lyina  on  the  forecastle,  with  one  of  the  anna 
of  the  fore-topaul-yafd  ran  through  her  fore-aail,  and  the  other 
jlimnwd  on  deck,  and  with  a  disorganised  craw.  Captain  Nioh- 
obon/ound  himself  compelled  to  go  to  quarters,  or  lo  strike 
without  nsiatanoa.  He  pnftrrad  the  first ;  but  the  Bngtish 
voluntoora,  instead  of  obeying  the  order,  want  bolbw,  eitin- 
gi^lMd  the  lights,  ndaacratedtbemsrtvw.  Near  half  of  the 
NRMunder  of  the  people  imiiMad  this  etanplo,  and  Captafai 
Niefaolaoa  ooold  not  nmaler  fifty  of  even  the  diminishad  craw 
ha  had,  at  the  guna.  The  battle  that  followed,  might  alnio^ 
boMidtohavebeaDfoiudiitliytfwoAoeis.  TheaabraveMa, 
Milained  by  a  puty  of  the  pet^  offioeio  and  seamen,  manafid 
a  few  of  the  goBi  fi»  Mora  than  aa  kwr,  whan  tlw  Geatnl 


i. 


MH 


JMI 


i*Mllh 


lb  to  be  found 
foy  of  twentv- 
pany.  Off  the 
I  Mtern.  Two 
IfortheTrum- 
>  gain  the  wind 
ly.  The  mer- 
Migh,  by  carry- 
p  moat  of  then) 
in  in  thia  man- 

•ouall  carried 
falling  brought 
le  we«therwaa 
I  Trumbull  took 
making  the  beat 
faaiUng.    The 

order  to  carry 
wreck  over  her 
n  nuinbeni,  but 
tuation  became 
r  condition  haa 
ig,  aa  to  form  a 
nwa  accompany 

ilriaSS.oneor 
I  which  ship;  on 
ot  yet  been  able 
iqaalla,  inatem- 
iper  of  the  ahip 
oneof  thearma 
il,and  the  other 
r,  Captain  Nioh- 
vn,  or  lo  atrike 
but  theBagtiah 
Dt  below,  extin* 
Near  half  of  the 
tie,  andCaptam 
juniniahfld  crew 
id,  might  alraoat 
lieae  brave  KM, 
9wneni,managad 
haBttwG«Mml 


1781.] 


MAYAL     HIBTORT. 


115 


Monk  18,  coming  up  and  joining  in  tl.o  fire  of  the  Iria,  tht 
Trumbull  aubmittad. 

In  thia  aingular  combat,  it  haa  even  been  aaaerted  that  at  no 
time  wore  forty  of  the  TrumbulPa  people  at  quartera.  It  waa 
probably  owing  to  thia  circumatanoe,  that  her  loaa  wa*  m> 
amall,  ibr  the  ihip  heraoif  ia  aaid  to  have  been  extenaively  cut 
up.  She  had  five  men  killed  and  olevoa  wounded.  Anwng , 
the  latter  were  two  of  the  lieutenantt,  and  Mr.  Aloiander  Mur- 
ray, a  gontlcnMin  of  Maryland,  who  had  been  educated  to  the 
aeaa,  and  bad  been  in  the  action  with  tho  Watt,  but  who  waa 
now  aerving  aa  a  volunteer,  and  who,  ailer  commanding  aeve* 
ral  Drivate  cruia«ra,  entered  the  navy,  and  aubaequentlydiedat 
the  head  of  the  aefvice  in  1891 .  Mr.  Murray  waa  particularly 
diatinguiahed  in  thia  aflkir,  and  the  conduct  of  Captain  NichoU 
aon  met  with  much  applauae.  The  Iria  aufiered  more  than 
could  have  been  expe<4ed  under  auch  circumatanoea,  and  r^ 
ported  aeven  men  kuled  and  wounded. 

Aa  aflbrding.  aorae  relief  to  the  loaa  of  the  Trumbull,  we  now 
come  to  a  handaome  exploit  that  occurred  aoon  after,  which 
ought,  perh  ipa,  properly,  to  take  ita  place  among  the  deeda  of 
the  private  cruiaera,  but  which  ia  of  aufficioit  importance  to  be 
mentioned  here,  and  thia  ao  much  the  more,  aa  a  portion  of 
thoae  engaged  belonged  to  the  regular  aervioe  of  the  country. 
A  private  cruiaer  called  the  Congreaa  had  been  fitted  out  m 
Phuadeiphia,  in  the  courae  of  the  aunune?,  and  in  September 
ahe  waa  cniiaing  on  the  ooaat  of  the  Carolinaa  and  Qec^ia. 
The  Congreaa'had  an  armament  of  20  guna,  according  to  the 
American  aceounta,  and  of  34  according  to  the  Enghah,  and 
ahe  waa  commanded  bv  Cq>tain  Geddea.  Few  of  1^  psople 
were  aeamen.  of  which  there  waa  now  a  sreat  acardty  in  tht 
country,  but  her  complement  waa,  in  a  great  degree,  made  up 
of  landHnen. 

On  the  momioff  of  the  6th  of  September,  cruMng  to  the 
eastward  of  Charteaton,  the  Congreaa  made  a  aafl,  to  whfeh 
•he  gave  chaae.  The  atranger  waa  aooo  diaoovered  to  be  • 
ember,  and  u  firat  abowed  a  diapoaition  to  engato,  but  afletf  . 
aoOM  mMKanrriiig  he  itood  off  At  half*pa«t  ten  Oe  Cbngreae 
began  to  fire  her  bow  guns,  and  at  elevna  being  olaeenpon  the 
eDMtty'a  ouarler,  she  opened  a  heavy  fire  oT  muaketiT,  which 
dUdajooddaalorexfleatkiB.  Dmwing  ahead,  the  Oongre« 
now  Mivend  her  broadiide,  and  it  was  retoned  with  wiiit  ■ 
At  fint  tke  eMiny  got  •  eraseofira  opoB  the  CoogRM,  and  flM 
itHet  ali^  meelfaif  wkk  ea  aoddaot,  ftU  ailwB  to  rJk.    Bol 


■■«««■ 


^ImmmmH^mmit 


116 


NATAL    HliTOEt. 


il7M. 


MOO  doting  igain,  the  combat  wm  renewed  wilh  ireth  vigour, 
•nd  Uie  CongniM  having  got  her  onomy  (kirly  undur  her  guna, 
in  leaa  than  an  hour  she  left  her  a  nearly  unmanagMble  wrwjk 
on  the  water.  Notwithstanding  hia  condition,  the  Englishman 
showed  no  disposition  to  submit,  and  the  Congress  ran  so  clow 
alongside,  ihat  the  men  wore  said  to  be  rociprocally  burned  by 
Uto  discharges  of  the  guns.  The  quartor-decJi  and  forecastle 
of  the  enemy  had  scarcely  a  man  left  on  it,  and  hu  fire  began 
to  slacken  in  consequence  of  aaveral  of  his  guns  havmg  been 
dismounted.  In  this  stage  of  the  engagement,  shot  were  even 
thrown  by  hand  and  did  execution.  At  length  the  miuen> 
mast  of  the  English  ship  fell,  and  the  main-roast  threatening  to 
feUow  it,  herboauwain  appeared  on  the  foiwcastlo,  with  hu 
hat  in  his  hand,  and  called  out  that  his  commander  had  struck. 
The  priae  proved  to  be  the  British  skwp  of  war  Savage  IB, 

wThaw  Iiot  reached  the  yea*  1783,  which  was  virtually 
the  last  of  the  war  of  the  Revolutioo,  though  aoroe  evrots  will 
remain  to  be  recorded  in  the  early  p«i  of  the  year  1788.    Iii 

the  commencent  of  this  year,  the  Deane  82,  made  a  auccesaftil 
cruise,  in  which  she  took  several  private  artned  vetse).  of  the 
enemy.  On  thia  occaaion,  the  X)«u»  waa  oomr.*nded  by 
Captain  Samuel  Nicholson. 

Tha  favourite  ship,  the  AUianoa  89,  C  ^rrv,  was 

much  employ«d  this  year,  her  superioi  ^iiii^  *' • 

vessel  in  cooataot  demand.    Among  other  mt%^  «^ 

perfimned,  thia  ahip  was  aeut  to  Havana  for  i«c  'y 

she  sailsd,  in  oompany  with  the  Luxeme,  a  ahip  »hA 

suppUss.  Mwrtly  aft«r  quitting  port,  aoroa  eoemy%  /easels 
fcflVwith  them,  and  gave  chaae.  WhUe  running  IVom  this 
fi>roB,a  large  sail  waa  seen  on  the  Alliance's  weather  bow, 
vrhieh  was  sooo  made  out  to  be  a  French  60,  on  two  decks. ' 
Exchanging  signals,  and  su|»oaing  that  the  Frrncb  fngate 
woukl  sustain  him,  Captain  Barnr  immediately  wore  round 
and  braught  the  leading  veasel  <rf  the  enemy  to  action ;  the 
others  mamauvring  in  a  way  to  enga|;e  the  ^teation  of  the 
fifty.  The  latter,  however,  kept  her  wmd  {  and  after  a  sbain 
fight  of  more  than  half  an  hour,  the  English  ship  enpaged 
inth  the  Alliance,  finding  herself  hard  pushed,  made  sig»ala 
to  her  cooaorte  to  join,  whoa  Cafrtain  Barry  hauled  on.  Iw 
j^Hianco  now  stood  for  the  French  ship,  and  speaking  her,  it 
waa  determined  to  brina  the  enemy  to  action  agwn,  in  com- 
pany.   ^  making  sail  in  chose,  however,  it  waa  soon  foittd 


II*    m 


^mm 


il7W. 

I  iWwh  vigour, 
winr  her  guns, 
tgeablo  wrack 
«  EngliahnMii 
w  ran  ao  cloaa 
illy  burned  by 
and  forecaalM 
bu  fire  began 
I  having  been 
ihot  were  even 
fi  the  mizxen* 
threateDiofflo 
Mtle,  with  nil 
ier  had  ■trusk. 
mr  Savage  16, 

I  was  virtually 
me  evenU  will 
ear  1788.  In 
da  a  aucceaaAil 
i  veaael^  of  the 
oinr:.«nded  by 

"^■»rrv,  WM 

V* 

m'  "* 

tup  «kij 

loemy  •  /eaaela 
ining  firoin  thin 
I  weather  bow, 
,00  two  deck*. 
Fvrncb  rrigate 
^ywore  round 
to  ai^tkm;  the 
ttieation  of  the 
id  afler  a  abarp 
I  abip  enpagea 
I,  made  sigoala 
luledi^.  TV 
qpeakini  ber,U 
again,  in  oom- 
ira«  aooa  found 


1788.] 


NATAL    HinTORT. 


117 


thai  the  fifty  waa  too  dull  a  uiler  to  give  the  least  hope  of 
overtaking  the  enemy,  and  the  attempt  was  abandoned. 

In  this  action,  the  Alliance  had  3  killed  and  II  wounded: 
while  It  is  said  that  the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  very  heavy 
Some  statements  place  the  latter  as  high  as  87  men ;  but  no 
acoounts  can  be  discovered,  that  give  a  very  clear  history  of 
this  aflkir.  Even  the  name  of  the  English  ship  appears  to  be 
loat.  One  of  the  enemy,  by  some  of  the  accounts,  was  said  to 
be  a  ship  of  the  line,  and  the  veasel  engaged  by  the  Allianoe. 
n  heavy  sloop  of  war.* 

The  command  of  the  Hague,  one  of  the  two  (Hgalaa  now 
left  in  the  Amerkan  marine,  was  given  to  Captain  Manly, 
after  her  return  (Vom  the  cruise  under  Captain  Nfeholson: 
•uid  this  officer  who  had  virtuallly  begun  the  maritime  war,  on 
the  part  of  the  United  States,  in  a  manner  closed  it,  by  an 
arduous  and  brilliant  chase,  in  which  he  escaped  ftom  several 
of  the  enemy's  ships  in  the  Weet.Indies,  after  being  fer  a  con. 
siderable  lime  un(<er  the  guns  of  a  vastly  superior  ftwoe.  T^ia 
oocimence  mav  be  saM  to  have  brought  the  regular  naval 
warikre  of  the  United  Stales  to  an  end,  so  flir  as  the  govern- 
ment  CTuiaeit  w«re  oonoemed,  peace  having  been  made  eariy 


CHAPTER  Xn.  ^^ 

Ik  March,  1789,  tha  Odawww  vnu  maoh  inftatod  by  btriH 
and  small  eniisera  of  the  enemy,  which  not  cnfivqua^y  mS 
prixea  of  veaaels  belonging  to  the  Amarieau,  aa  w«U  aa  mn. 
eaUng  the  people  who  dwelt  near  the  water.  With  a  view  to 
*nt  '"•  i?*^*"*  0P«»  •gwnrt  tbtM  maraudara,  the  State 
of  Pennsylvanw  determined  to  ftt  out  a  ftw  veaMla  at  ita  own 
Mpense,  and  with  such  materiala  as  oouM  be  hastily  coilaotad. 
With  thu  olv«t,  a  small  ahip  called  the  Hyder  Ally  waa  pur. 
chnaed.    Bo  •«»Jd»nly  did  ^  local  gov«nwHnt  rame  to  itt 

.1  *iV^  •*»  laanoists  agthori 
IksMbvLntfaifMLsadBi       ' 
pisbaUikkisi^htialhb 


iagSDoral,  says  that  tkki 
|«W.CIip(afaiyatlM».    Iiiaqttito 


mmrmm 


dtaMaMMla 


118 


NATAL    UISTOBT 


CIM» 


iw^iutioii,  that  the  veMBl  jurt  namod,  whwi  bought,  iMd  •ola. 
aliy  droppwl  down  the  river,  on  an  outward-bound  ToyaM, 
kMMlod  with  (lour.    She  was  brought  back,  her  cargo  waa  dia- 
charged,  and  an  armament  of  l«  MK.poundera  waa  put  upon 
her.     80  little,  however,  waa  thta  ahip  ready  for  war,  (>»>  •>>• 
had  to  be  nUnjod  in  order  to  receive  her  guna.     Indeed^ 
piiMaing  WM  the  emergency,  that  the  merchanto  of  Philadal- 
uhia  anticipated  the  paaMoe  of  the  law  to  authorial  the  pu^ 
chaae  and  equipment  of  thla  ahip,  by  advancing  fUnda  for  that 
purpoae  i  and  the  act  had  not  entirely  gone  through  all  ita  hgal 
Ka,  until  after  the  expldt  we  are  about  to  record  had  been 
ngibnmi  t    The  oommiaaioners  entruated  with  th^  duty  of 
pnparing  the  ahip,  aelected  Lieutenant  Joahua  Bam^oT  the 
United  Statee  navy,  aa  her  commander,  a  young  «8oef  of 
meat  deduon  of  chaiaotor  and  pervonal  bravery,  who  had 
SrMkdy  diatinguiahed  himaelf  in  auWdinate  ilatioiia.  on  bowd 
of  diflbrent  omiaera  of  Uie  genmral  fovemment,  but  who,  like 
10  many  mora  of  the  proAaakio,  waa  obliged  ftequeotly  to 
eliooaa  between  idleneaa  and  a  aarvioa  laaa  regular  than  that  to 

which  he  properly  belonged.  ^  ,^    „   .     *.,         j 

A  craw  of  110  men  waa  put  on  boud  the  Hydar  AUy  I  Md 

within  a  fortni^t  after  he  waa  appobted  to  command  her,  Cnp- 
tain  3amey  aailed.  It  waa  not  the  intention  of  the  authorittea 
of  Pennaylvania,  that  thU  ahip  ehould  go  to  aea,  but  meraly 
that  ahe  ehould  keep  the  navigatkm  of  the  river  •«'^yop«i» 
and  drive  off  privateera,  and  other  amall  cniiaeta.  On  the  8tt 
of  April,  the  Hyder  Ally  got  into  the  bay  with  a  oonaWerable 
oooToy  of  outward-bound  merchantmen.  The  whole  fleet  had 
anchored  in  the  roada  off  Cape  May,  in  waiUna  for  a  wmd  to 
get  to  aea,  when  two  ehipe  and  a  brig,  one  of  the  former  a 
ftigate,  wera  aeen  rounding  the  Cape,  with  a  view  to  attack 
U^.  Captain  Barney  immediatalir  ran  up  a  aignal  for  the 
eoBvoT  to  trip,  and  to  atand  up  the  hay  agab.  the  wtod  being 
to  the  Boothward.  Thla  order  waa  piompdy  ob«y«d,and  in  a 
Ibw  miirataa,  the  merchant  veawla,  with  one  aioepUon,  wera 
running  o<f  befora  the  wind,  with  erefy  tUag  aet  that  would 
draw,  flie  Hyder  Ally  coverteg  their  rt«reat,  oader  eeey  aal^. 
The  Teaael  that  remained,  endeavmtred  to  «t  to  aea,  by  hauU 
ing  oloee  round  the  cape,  but  grounded  and  foil  intolbe  haade 
oT  the  enemy.  Another  venel  got  o«  the  ahoab,  and  waa 
taken  by  a  boat  flrom  the  neareat  of  the  Engliah  orulaera. 

An  «tenaive  ehoel,  called  the  ••  Over  l^la,"  *""•»*» 
ehanoela,  b  the  lower  part  of  Delawara  Bay,  and  wyia  m 


..^j.'aMtuafc. 


■fcl  <fc- 


[hi,  had  Mtu* 
Miud  Toyuph 
»rgo  WM  a!** 
WM  put  upoa 
war,  llMt  tlM 
I.    ludMd,  M 
■  of  PhiUdel' 
oriao  tha  puN 
fUiuk  for  that 
ighdiitiitagd 
nofdhad  beso 
h  Uk.  dutv  of 
Bwiwy,  or  tht 
ung  oAoer  of 
'ery,  who  bad 
iowioa  bowd 
,  hut  who.  lik« 
ftvquMtiy  to 
lar  than  that  10 

rdarAUyiaad 
nand  bar,  Cf 
the  authoritias 
•a,  but  imrtly 
and  bay  opod* 
1.  OnthaBtk 
aoooaidembla 
whole  fleet  had 

Jibr  a  wind  to 
thefi>nner  a 
view  to  attnek 
I  signal  fer  the 
tha  wind  bring 
beyed,andina 
■toeptioo,  were 
aet  that  would 
nder  eaay  aail. 
to  8M,  by  haul* 
I  into  the  hand* 
ihoab,andwaa 
h  oruisera. 
Ha,**  fonna  two 
,  and  whito  Hm 


1 


im.) 


NATAL     HIBTQIiy, 


119 


convoy  paaaed  up  the  Mialnmmtwt  o(  thewt  nhaniwla,  or  that 
which  m  known  u  tho  "  Cap*  Mav  t.'hannel,"  thfl  frigat*  ainod 
lowar«l«  the  WMtcrn,  which  odered  a  better  chancn  (o  head  the 
Aigitivea  at  the  point  where  the  two  united,  and  which  had  the 
moat  water.  The  remaining  ahip  and  the  brig,  atood  oo  in  tlie 
direction  o(  the  Hydtir  Ally. 

It  waa  not  long  before  the  brig,  which  proved  to  Im  a  Briliah 
privaUwr  out  of  N«w  York,  oalTod  the  Fair  American,  came 
up  with  the  Hyder  Allv,  when  the  lallnr  oflbred  her  battle. 
But  Aring  a  broadeide,  the  privateer  kept  aloof,  and  continued 
up  the  bay.  Captain  Barney  declined  to  return  thia  fire,  hold, 
ing  himaelf  in  reerrvo  for  the  ahiu  aatem,  a  large  akiop  o(  war, 
which  waa  flut  ooming'un.  When  the  latter  got  quite  near, 
the  Hyder  Ally,  which  had  kept  cloae  to  the  ahoal,  luflM,  threw 
in  her  broadeide,  and  immediateiy  righting  hrr  helm,  kept 
•way  again.  The  «wmy  atood  boldly  on,  and  juat  aa  hie  for< 
ward  guna  were  beginning  to  bear,  the  two  veaaela  being  within 
piakA-Am,  the  Hyder  Ally  aUampled  to  lulT  athwart  hia  hawae, 
when  the  jih-boom  of  the  tCngUah  ahip  ran  into  her  fore>rigging, 
and  tha  two  veaeele  got  foul.  It  ie  aaid  that  Captain  Barney 
ohiainad  thia  advantage  by  deceiving  hia  enemy,  having  given 
an  ordnr  to  port  the  helm,  in  a  loud  voice,  when  aecret  batniO' 
tioM  had  been  given  to  the  quarter-maater  at  the  wheel,  to  put 
hia  helm  hard  a.aUrboard.  The  Hvder  Ally  now  opened  • 
aevere  raking  fira,  and  in  leaa  than  half  an  hour  firom  the  oom- 
menoement  of  the  action,  the  atranger  alruok,  the  ahipe  renain- 
iogfcul  of  aneh  other. 

The  flrigala,  which  had  not  actually  got  into  the  weelem 
ohnnnel,  paroeiving  the  alale  of  thinga,  changed  her  oooiw, 
with  a  view  to  get  loond  to  the  oombatants,  and  Captain  Bar* 
ney  had  no  time  to  kiaa.  Throwing  hM  flnl  Ueutanaot,  with 
a  party,  on  hoard  thepriw,  he  ordered  her  to  continue  op  tlie 
bay,  while  he  oovwed  the  retreat  with  hia  own  sh^.  In  the 
mean  whik,  Um  hrig  had  run  aground  above,  in  ehaae  of  tha 
oonvoy,  Thafe  iaaoawreaaontomppoaethattbeoommuider 
of  the  flr^rale  did  not  know  the  reauU  of  tha-netion,  for  ha 
made  ainids  to  tha  priae,  and  anchored  about  aonaat,  leaving 
the  Hydnr  Ally,  whieh  had  been  kept  a  long  dislaaoa  aaiwn 
of  the  other  vaaaela,  with  a  view  to  dSvert  Kie  attention,  to  pro* 
oead  to  Philada^ihin  without  fbither  moleatotion. 

Up  to  tlna  moment,  O^ilain  Barney  did  not  knwr  e?aB  tha 
MMw  of  hia  nriaa.  Ha  now  made  muI,  however,  and  numinf 
akingrida  of  W,  for  the  fint  time  ha  learned  that  he  had  ci^k 


tao 


NAVAL     MISTOKT. 


I" 


turod  hU  nntannia  Majraiy'i  thiD  iUiimnl  Monk  18,  (^ptaia 
Kogera.  'I'hia  vraarl  fi«(l  formerly  \w>rn  Ihn  Ainrrtran  pnva* 
UMT,  Urunrnl  Wnahington,  and  luiviu||  fallmi  into  (ha  pnwvr 
of  Adininil  Arbuthnul,  h«i  ImuI  tmkm  hmr  Into  (bo  king'i  Mir 
vion,  givan  Iwr  •  n«w  namn,  «nd  proimidxl  «  fhvounta  ollloar 
to  hnr  rumnMiul.  Thn  Monk  iiM>unt«Ni  twffniy  ninni,  an'l  is 
Mul  to  havn  had  a  craw  of  134  mnn.  ('aptnin  R<>((«r«  rn|M)rt< 
cxl  hi*  Ujm  at  »u  killed,  and  twtmty-niiK)  w<MinikMj  j  Ixil  ('af^ 
tftin  UarnflV  atatod  it  at  twenty  kilM,  and  thirty<ai«  wounded. 
It  ia  protMola  tnat  tho  latt«r  account  ia  nearest  tu  the  truth,  aa 
the  commander  of  a  captured  veaael  haa  not  alwaya  aa  |ii»d 
on  opportunity  aa  hia  cjiptor,  to  aacertain  hia  own  loaa.  TiM 
Hyder  Ally  had  four  kiliMi,  and  ninvcn  wininded. 

Thia  action  haa  baen  jually  deemed  one  of  the  moat  briU 
tian:  that  ever  occurred  uodor  the  AmericaD  flag.  It  was 
fought  in  the  nreaenoa  of  a  vaatly  auperior  force  that  waa  not 
en^ged ;  and  the  ahip  taken  waa,  in  every  eaanntial  fwapect, 
auperior  to  her  conqueror.  The  diaproportioii  in  mi«tal,  be< 
twneu  a  aix-|>ounder  and  a  nine-poumier,  ia  one-half;  and  the 
Monk,  boaidea  being  a  heavier  and  a  larger  ahip,  had  the  moat 
men.  Both  reaaeia  appeardi  before  Philadelphia  a  few  houra 
after  the  action,  bringing  with  them  even  their  dead ;  and  moal 
of  the  Itjadutg  ikcta  were  known  to  the  ontiro  community  of 
that  place. 

The  atcadineaa  with  which  Captain  Bamev  protootul  hit 
convoy,  the  gallantry  and  conduct  with  whieii  he  engaged, 
and  the  pcraeveranoo  with,  which  he  covered  the  retreat  of  kit 
prize,  are  all  deoorving  of  high  praiae.  Throughout  the  whol« 
aflkir,  thia  oflkor  diaoovored  the  qualitioa  of  a  great  naval  cap- 
tain ;  failing  in  no  eooential  of  that  diatinguiaiwd  charactw. 

The  Moiik,  her  old  name  having  been  reotored,  waa  takaa 
intQ  the  aervice  of  the  Stale  of  Pennaylvania,  and  waa  ahortly 
after  aent  on  duly  in  behalf  of  the  United  Stalaa,  to  the  Weat. 
Indiea.  Dut-ing  thia  cruioo,  Captain  Barney,  who  oommandad 
her,  hod  a  warm  engagement  with  an  Bnglish  brig,  auppoaed 
to  be  a  privntvor,  of  C4|ual  force,  bdt  she  escaped  fttMn  him, 
the  meeting  cnxurring  in  the  night,  and  the  enemy  manoBuvriog 
and  Bailing  particularly  well.  The  name  of  his  antagonist  m 
not  known.  In  this  affliir,  the  Washington  receiv«l  soma 
damage  in  her  spars,  but  met  with  no  serious  loss. 

Massachusetts  and  South  Carolina  were  the  two  statea  that 
moat  exerted  themselves,  in  order  to  equip  cruisers  of  their 
own.    As  early  as  September,  1776,  one  of  the  voasels  of  thp 


(ITtt 

k  18,  (Captain 
rrtran  pnva* 
to  (bo  pnwvr 

•  king*!  tar 
'ourtta  oflkar 
iiinm,  aixl  m 
t->K^r«  m|Mirt. 
ihJ  i  Ixil  i'm^ 
■ail  wounded. 
I  iha  truth,  aa 
raya  aa  |food 
n  loaa.    Tha 

tw  moat  briU 
Hog.  It  wa« 
that  waa  not 
ntial  iwapect, 
in  nM«tal,  be* 
lalf;  and  tha 
,  bad  tho  moat 
I  •  few  bouni 
ad  {  and  rkmI 
;onununity  of 

protaotbd  his 
he  fHigaoed, 
retreat  or  kia 
KMit  the  wbol« 
Mt  naval  cap- 
I  oharactmr. 
Hi,  waa  takaa 
A  waa  ibortly 
,  to  the  Wort, 
ooonunanded 
mg,  Mippoaed 
ed  drom  him, 
r  manoBUTriag 
antagooiat  is 
eceivMl  aouM 
le. 

ro  atatea  that 
iaen  of  their 
Toaaelaofth* 


ITM.) 


NAVAL     NISTORT, 


131 


former  ut  Mui  to  barn  capiumd  an  Knglith  •loop  of  war,  aflar 
a  ■harp  action  ;  Uil  wn  can  di«cov«r  no  moru  than  (p«iwrhl  nnd 
vagu«  akwminia  of  tho  atHiir. 

Among  tbn  vnMMla  of  ManMichuaatta  wm  onn  naniiHl  after 
th«  Htato  itwif,  and  a  brig  rallwl  ibn  Tyrannituki.  Thti  latter 
waa  a  •ut^cfwaAil  cruia««r,  and  mi»tln  many  oapturca,  but  aho 
waa  loal  in  ib«i  unfortunalu  nffair  in  thn  IVnolia«;ot.  It  ia  b»> 
I»«vchI  that  the  Tyranmrid«  wna  built  p«prwialy  for  a  cruiaer. 
But  the  (kvounte  oftk-nr  of  tbia  anrvi«^  appnara  to  bnvo  bneo 
(Ja|>tMin  John  Foater  Williama,  who  command«Mi  a  brig  called 
the  llaxard,  in  1779.  In  tbia  y<mm\,  in  addition  to  ibe  action 
alrmdy  n>latnil  with  (hn  Activo,  Cajitain  Willinnw  p.irfi)riiied 
many  bandaomo  eiploita,  proving  hinwolf,  on  all  occaaiona,  aa 
officer  of  merit. 

After  quitting  the  Haurd,  Captain  Wjlliwna  waa  traiuftr. 
red  to  the  Protector  90,  equally  a  aUto  ahip.  In  tbia  veaael 
he  had  the  two  antiona  mnntionrd  m  another  cbapti'r.— that 
with  the  Duff,  and  that  with  tbn  rhnmwi,— in  lioth  of  which 
Ihia  nllunt  offlc«r  grmitiy  diiitinffuiahed  himaelf.  Soon  after 
thia  brilliant  cruiao  he  maumed  the  command  of  the  Hazard, 
which  waa  alao  loat  to  the  atate  in  the  unfortunat-  expedition 
againat  the  Dritiah  in  the  IVnolwcot.  It  woidd  probably  have 
been  bettor  for  Maaaachiiaetta  bad  it  nanmi  thia  meritortoua 
officer  to  the  command  of  the  naval  armament  on  that  occa« 
aion.  Thia  unhappy  affair  appeara,  in  a  great  degree,  to  hava 
put  an  end  to  the  maritime  eflbrta  of  Maaaachuaetta,  a  atate, 
however,  that  wm  active  to  the  laat,  in  aiding  the  genermi 
cauae. 

Of  the  veaaela  of  Carolina  ntentioa  haa  already  been  mad*. 
Ill  the  mt\y  part  of  the  war  aeveral  light  cruiaera  w-»«  en. 
ployed,  but  aa  the  conteat  advanced,  thu  State  entertained  • 
plan  of  obtaining  a  few  veaaela  of  force,  with  an  intention  of 
atriking  a  heavier  blow  than  common  againat  the  enemy. 
With  thia  view  Commodore  Oillon,  the  officer  who  waa  at  the 
head  of  ita  little  marine,  went  to  Europe,  and  large  amount* 
of  colonial  produce  were  traaamitted  to  him,  in  order  to  raiaa 
the  naceaaary  Ainda.  In  hi*  oorreapondence,  thia  officer  ooin- 
plaioa  of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  the  right  aort  of  abipa,  and 
much  time  waa  lept  ia  fruilleaa  negotiationa  for  that  purpoaa, 
in  both  Pruie*  and  Holland.  At  Ugth  an  arrangement  waa 
entered  into,  for  ono  veaael,  that  ia  ao  singular  aa  to  require 

Crtkular  notice.  Thia  veaml  waa  the  Indwn,  which  had  been 
d  down  by  the  Amerioan  oommiaaionert,  at  Amaterdam,  and 


122 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


[1788. 


•ulwequently  presented  to  France.    She  had  the  dimennooi 
of  a  unall  74,  but  was  a  Trigate  in  conitruction,  carrving,  how* 
ever,  an  armament  that  consisted  of  28  Swedish  thirty-sizet 
on  her  gun-deck,  and  of  12  Swedish  twelves  on  her  quarter* 
deck  and  forecastle,  or  40  guns  in  the  whole.    This  ship, 
though  strictly  the  property  of  France,  had  been  lent  by  Louis 
XVI.  to  the  iJuke  of  Luxembourg,  who  hired  her  to  the  State 
of  South  Carolina  for  three  years,  on  conditwn  that  the  State 
would  insure  her,  sail  her  at  its  own  eipenae,  and  render  to 
her  owner  one<fourth  of  the  proceeds  or  her  priiea.    Under 
this  singular  compact,  the  ship,  which  was  named  the  South 
Carolina  for  the  oocasicm,  got  out  in  1761,  and  made  a  sue* 
oessiUl  cruise  in  the  narrow  seas,  sending  her  priies  into 
Spain.    Afterwards  she  proceeded  to  America,  c^turing  ten 
sail,  with  which  she  went  into  the  Havana.  Here  Commodore 
Gillon,  with  a  view  to  distress  the  enemy,  accepted  the  com* 
mand  of  the  nautical  part  of  an  expeditwn  against  the  Baha- 
mas, that  had  been  set  on  foot  by  the  Spaniards,  and  in  which 
other  American  cruiaeni  joined.  The  exjpeditmn  was  success* 
fill,  and  the  ship  proceeded  to  Philadeli^iui.    Commodore  Gil* 
Ion  now  left  her,  and  after  some  delay,  the  South  Carolina 
went  to  sea  in  December,  1783,  under  the  orders  of  Captain 
Joyner,  an  officer  who  had  previously  served  on  board  her  as 
second  in  command.    It  ix  probable  that  the  movements  of  so 
important  a  vessel  were  watched,  for  she  had  scarcely  cleared 
the  capes,  when,  after  a  short  running  fight,  she  fell  into  die 
hands  of  tbe^tish  ship  Dkwwde  44,  having  the  Astrea  89, 
and  the  Quebec  82,  in  company. 

The  South  Carolina  was  much  the  heaviest  ship  that  ever 
sailed  under  the  American  flag,  until  the  new  frigates  were 
constructed  dv-ring  the  war  of  1812,  and  she  is  deecribed  as 
having  been  a  particularly  fiwt  vessel ;  but  her  service  appears 
to  have  been  greatly  disproportioned  td  her  means.  She  oost 
the  state  a  large  sum  of  money,  and  is  believed  to  have  re* 
turned  literally  nothing  to  its  treasury.  Her  loss  ezdied  much 
comment. 

Admiral  Arbuthnot  reports  anM»gtkB  ** rebel  ships <^ war" 
taken  or  sunk  at  the  capture  of  Charleston,  **  the  Brioole, 
pierced  for  60,  mounting  44  guns,  twenty*four  and  eighteen* 
pounders,**  &&  As  there  never  was  a  vessel  of  this  name  iu 
the  navy  of  the  United  States,  it  is  probable  that  this  ship  was 
another  heavy  frigate  obtained  by  the  State  of  South  Carolina, 
.n  Europe.    Although  this  state  had  the  pecuniary  nieans  to 


[1788. 

)  dimensioiui 
irrvingi  how* 
I  thirty-tiiM 
her  quairter- 
Thu  ihip, 
lent  by  Louu 
r  to  the  State 
ihat  the  Stnte 
nd  render  to 
iiee.    Under 
)d  the  South 
made  a  luo 
r  priiee  into 
e^turingten 
9  CommMlore 
ted  the  com* 
ut  theBaha> 
and  in  which 
was  success* 
lunodore  GiU 
Mith  Carolina 
rs  of  Captain 
board  her  as 
ramentsof  so 
uroely  cleared 
I  fell  into  die 
te  Astrea  89, 

ihip  that  ever 
frigates  were 
described  as 
errioe  appears 
AS.  She  cost 
i  to  have  re« 
I  exdied  much 

ships  <^  war** 
«the  Brioole, 
and  eighteen* 
f  thiansmeiu 
i  this  ship  was 
outh  Carolina, 
iary  means  to 


inn] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


123 


equip  a  better  marine  than  common,  it  had  neither  vessels 
builoing-yards,  nor  seamen.  Most  of  its  vessels  were  pur* 
chased,  and  its  mariners  were  principally  obtained  from  places 
out  of  its  limits,  Commodore  Gillon  and  Captain  Joyner  being 
both  natives  of  Holland. 

Thus  terminated  the  first  war  in  which  America  was  en* 
gaged  as  a  separate  nation,  aiUr  a  strugsle  that  had  endured 
seven  years  and  ten  months.  Orders  of  recall  were  immedi- 
ately pvea  to  the  diflerent  cruisers,  and  the  commissions  of 
all  privateers  and  letters  of  marc^ue  were  revoked.  The  pro* 
clamation  announcing  a  cessation  of  hostilities  was  made 
on  the  11th  of  April,  when  the  war  finally  terminated  at  all 
points. 

It  remains  oa\y  to  say  that  the  aa.yy  of  the  Revolution,  like 
its  army,  was  disbanded  at  the  termination  of  the  struggle, 
literally  leaving  nothing  behind  it,  but  the  reccdlections  of  its 
services  and  sifibrings. 


CHAPTER  Xni. 

Tuii  country  was  too  much  exhausted  by  the  war  of  the 
revoluticm  to  incur  the  expense  of  a  marine  during  a  time  of 
peace.  But  the  growing  commerce  of  the  country,  as  well  as 
Its  unprotected  state,  excited  tbeoupidity  of  the  Dey  of  Alders, 
who  captured  the  schooner  Maine,  of  BoMon,  on  the  2o3i  of 
July,  1765.  This  unprovoked  outrage  was  sooceeded  by 
others,  until  the  government  of  the  United  States,  kAer  negoti- 
ating in  the  best  manner  it  could  for  the  release  of  the  vessels 
and  cantives,  fmind  itsdf  undor  the  necessity  of  snning.  This 
decided  meanure  was  not  taken,  however,  until  after  the  or* 
sanisation  of  the  government  under  the  new.poDStituti(m,  and 
during  the  Presidency  of  Washington.  The  construction  of 
six  frigates  was  authorised  by  law,  and  the  keels  of  the  fidkw. 
ing  vessels  were  laid,  viz :  ^  Constituti<m  44,  United  States 
44,  Piesident  44,  Obesapeake  88,  CooMellation  88,  and  Con* 
peas  88. 

This  was  the  ommienceroent  <^  the  actual  and  permanent 
marine  of  the  country.    Three  of  the  ships  just  named  am 


mmm 


■V 


ttm0&t 


124 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[179»4«. 


now  in  uae,  and  two  are  ort  foreign  stationf.  In  oonaequencu 
of  an  arrangement  of  the  difficultiea  with  Algiers,  neither  of 
these  vessels  was  launched  for  some  years,  the  work  on  them 
being  suspended  by  an  order  of  government.  A  navy  was  so 
far  created,  notwithstanding,  that  the  gentlemen  appointed  to 
command  the  frigates,  continued  in  service,  as  did  some  of  the 
inferior  officers.  Their  duties  were  chiefly  limited  to  taking 
care  of  the  ships  that  were  still  on  the  stocks,  and  the  stores 
that  had  been  collected.  The  time  was  drawing  near,  how* 
ever,  when  a  nnore  active  and  serviceable  marine  was  estab- 
lished. 

The  President,  in  his  annual  speech  to  Congress,  December, 
1790,  strongly  recommended  laws  for  the  gradual  increase  of 
the  navy.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  as  appean  by  documents 
published  at  the  time,  that,  the  peace  obtained  from  the  Dey 
of  Algien  cost  the  government  of  the  United  States  near  a 
million  of  dollars,  a  sum  quite  sufficient  to  have  kept  the  bar- 
barian's port  hermetically  blockaded  until  he  should  have 
humblv  sued  for  peiToissioa  to  send  a  craft  to  sea. 

While  these  events  were  grnduallv  leading  to  the  formation 
of  a  navy,  ihe  maritime  powers  of  Euro^  became  involved  in 
what  was  neariv  a  oeneral  war,  and  their  measures  of  hostility 
against  each  other  had  a  direct  tendency  to  trespass  on  the 
privileges  of  neutrals.  It  would  exceed  the  limits  of  this  work 
to  enter  into  the  historr  of  that  system  of  gradual  encroach* 
mnnts  on  the  rights  of  the  American  pei^le,  which  distinguished 
the  measures  of  both  the  two  ^reat  belligerents,  in  the  war  that 
Bucoeeded  the  French  Revolution ;  or  tlw  height  of  audacity  to 
which  the  cruisers  of  France,  in  particular,  carried  their  depre* 
datimis,  roost  probably  mistaking  the  amount  of  the  influence 
of  their  own  country,  over  the  great  body  of  the  American 
natitm.  Not  only  did  they  capture  British  ships  within  our 
waters,  but  thev  actually  took  the  same  liberties  with  Ameri* 
cans  tilso.  AU  attemj^s  to  obtain  redress  from  the  French 
ffovemment  fiuled,  and  unable  to  submit  any  longer  to  such 
mjustice,  the  president,  in  April,  1798,  recommenoad  to  Con- 
gress a  plan  of  armament  and  deibioe,  that  it  was  hqped  would 
have  the  eflfect  to  cheek  these  aggressions,  and  avert  an  <^«i 
conflict  Down  to  this  period,  toe  whole  military  oifflnJMJtkm 
of  the  countnr,  was  entrusted  to  one  department,  that  of  imr  { 
and  a  letter  irom  the  secretary  of  this  branch  of  the  govern* 
ment,  to  the  chairman  of  a  committee  to  devise  nteans  of  pro* 
taction  and  defence,  was  the  form  in  which  this  high  interest 


«. 


0fmm 


[1796-ait. 

oonaequeneu 
■a,  neitner  of 
rork  on  them 
navy  wm  so 
appointed  to 
1  some  of  the 
ited  to  taking 
nd  the  stores 
g  near,  how- 
te  was  estab* 

IS,  December, 
il  increase  of 
by  documents 
rom  the  Dey 
States  near  a 
kept  the  bar- 
should  have 
I. 

the  formation 
le  involved  in 
«•  of  hostility 
ispass  on  tm 
s  of  this  work 
lal  encroach* 
1  distinguished 
1  the  war  that 
of  auda9ity  to 
d  their  depre- 
the  influence 
the  American 
[M  within  our 
I  with  Ameri- 
1  the|Prench 
oger  lo  such 
mded  to  Con- 
ihqiedwould 
avert  an  <^[)ai  ^ 
r  oigwnJMltion 
,'thatofiniri 
r  the  govwn* 
neansof  pro* 
I  high  intereit 


1798.1 


NAVAL     HI8T0RT. 


125 


was  brought  before  the  nation,  through  its  representatives. 
Twenty  small  vessels  were  advised  to  be  built,  and,  in  the 
event  of  an  open  rupture,  it  was  recommended  to  Congress  to 
authorise  the  President  to  cause  six  ships  of  the  lino  to  bo  con- 
structed. This  force  was  in  addition  to  the  six  frigates  au- 
thorised by  the  law  of  1794. 

The  United  States  44^  Constitution  44;  and  Constellation  88, 
had  been  got  afloat  the  year  previous. 
^  The  United  States  was  the  first  vessel 
water,  under  the  present  organisation 
launched  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  10th  < 
,  followed  her  on  the  7th  < 
ongreas  acted  so  far  on  the  recommendation  of  the  secro- 
tary  of  war,  as  to  authorise  the  President  to  cause  to  be  built, 
purchased,  or  hired,  twelve  vessels,  none  of  which  were  to  ex- 
ceed twenty-two  guns,  and  lo  see  that  they  wen  duly  equipped 
and  manned.  To  efibct  these  objects  $9S0,000  were  appro- 
priated. This  law  passed  on  the  37th  of  April,  1798,  and  on  the 
80th,  a  regular  navy  department  was  formally  created.  Ben- 
jamin Stoddart,  of  Georgetown,  in  the  District  of  Columbia, 
was  the  first  secretary  put  at  the  head  of  this  important  branch  of 
the  government,  entering  oo  his  duties  in  June  of  the  same  year. 

Down  to  this  moment,  the  old  treaty  of  alliance,  formed  be- 
tween Fnnoe  and  the  United  States  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  some  subseouent  conventions,  were  legylly  in 
existence ;  but  Congress  by  law  solemnlv  abrogated  them  all, 
on  the  7th  of  July,  1796,  on  the  plea  that  they  had  been  re- 
peatedly disregarded  by  France,  and  that  the  latter  oountry 
ooDtinued,  in  the  fine  of  the  most  solemn  remonstrances,  to 
pnctiae  a  system  of  predatory  warflue  on  theoommeroe  of  the 
oountry. 

On  the  11th  of  July,  1796,  a  new  marine  corps  was  estab- 
lisM  by  law,the  oldonehaTingbpen  oisbanded  with  the  nary 
<^  the  Revolution,  to  which  it  bad  properly  belonged.  On  the 
I6th  of  the  same  month,  a  law  was  passed  to  construct  three 
more  frigates.  This  act  was  exprsssed  m  Qieh  terms  as  to 
enable  the  oovemment  immediately  to  conmlete  the  ships  eom- 
menoed  uMwr  the  law  of  1794,  and  which  nad  been  suspended 
under  that  of  1706.  Hie  whole  tome  authorised  by  law,  on 
die  16th  of  Ji^,  eonssquently,  consisted  of  twelve  frigates ; 
twdve  diipe  of  a  fiiroe  between  30  and  24  guns,  inclusive ; 
and  six  wnaller  sloops,  bendes  galleys  and  revenue  cutters  j 
making  a  total  of  thiily  acUve  cruisers. 
11* 


ilil'B^iUlliH 


iMMI 


^ 


t 


■A  .1*111 


1 


126 


NAYAL    HISTOBf. 


nam. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Althovoh  three  of  the  frigates  were  launched  in  1797, 
neither  was  quite  ready  for  service  when  the  necessities  of  the 
country  required  that  vessels  should  be  sent  to  sea.    The 
want  of  suitable  spars  and  guns,  and  other  naval  stores,  had 
rotarded  the  labour  on  the  frigates,  while  vessels  had  been  rea- 
dily bouoht  for  tke  sloops  of  war,  which,  though  deficient  in 
many  oTthe  qualities  and  conveniences  of  re|(ular  cruisers, 
w«re  made  to  answer  the  exigencies  of  the  Umes.    Among 
others  that  had  been  thus  provided,  was  an  Indiaman,  called 
the  Ganges.    Retaining  her  name,  this  vessel  was  brought 
Into  the  service,  armed  and  equi{nied  as  a  34,  and  put  uiMwr 
the  command  of  (kptain  Hichanl  Dale,  who  was  ordered  to 
sail  on  a  cruise  on  the  33d  of  May.    This  ship,  then,  was  the 
first  man-of-war  that  ever  got  to  sea  since  the  present  oraani- 
sation  of  the  navy,  or  since  the  United  States  have  existed  un- 
der the  constitution.    Captain  Dale  was  instructed  to  do  no 
more  than  pertains  generally  to  the  authority  of  a  vtasel  of 
war,  that  is  cruising  on  the  coast  of  the  country  to  which  she 
belongs,  in  a  time  of  peace ;  the  law  that  mnpowured  seinires 
not  passing  until  a  tew  <biys  after  he  bad  sailed.    His  cruising 
ground  extended  firom  the  east  end  of  Long  Island  to  the  capes 
of  Virginia,  with  a  view  lo  cover,  as  much  as  possible,  the 
three  important  ports  of  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  New 
ToA;  and,  in  anticipation  of  tba  act  of  the  S8th  of  May, 
Ctotain  Dale  was  directed  to  appear  ofi*  the  capes  of  the  D»> 
laware  on  the  13th  of  June,  to  receive  new  orders.    On  that 
day,  inatmetioos  were  aooordii^y  sent  to  him  to  capture  all 
French  cruiseni  that  were  hovering  on  the  coast  wi^  hostile 
views  on  the  American  oonuneroe,  and  to  raeaptaNi  any  of 
their  prices  he  might  hmtm  to  fall  in  with. 

The  Constellation  98,  Captain  Trakton,  and  the  Deiawws 
90,  Captain  Decatur,  went  to  ssa,  eaify  in  June,  under  the  last 
of  the  foi^p>inff  orders,  and  with  diiectioos  to  cruise  to  the 
southward  of  Cipe  Henry,  as  for  as  the  coaal  of  Fkirida. 
Whan  a  few  days  out,  the  Detaware  Ml  in  with  the  French 
privateer  schooner  Le  Croyable  14,  with  a  oiew  of  70  man. 
IWng  satisfied  that  this  vessd  had  already  made  aevwd  piteM, 


[ITM. 


led  in  1707, 
eiaiUesof  the 

0  tea.  The 
il  stores,  had 
Iwd  been  rea> 

1  deficient  in 
liar  oruisen, 
IMS.  Among 
iaman,  oalled 
was  brought 
mdputuiMwr 
IS  ordered  to 
then,  was  the 
resent  orsani* 
re  ezistea  un- 
cted  to  do  no 
>r  a  vessel  of 

to  which  she 
rured  seinires 

His  cruising 
id  to  the  capes 
I  possible,  the 
lia,  and  New 
S8th  of  May, 
es  of  theDe- 
leis.  Ottthat 
to  eaptuteall 
•twi^  hostile 
sptaNl  any  of 

the  Ddawwe 
,  under  the  last 
D  cruise  to  the 
•t  of  Florida, 
tth  theFieneli 
w  of  70  man. 
ssvwai  praMii 


int) 


NATAL    HIBTOftY. 


137 


and  that  she  was  aetnally  cruising  on  soundings,  in  search  of 
more,  Captain  Decatur  took  her,  and  Mtnt  h«r  into  the  Dela. 
ware.  As  the  law  directing  the  capture  or  all  armed  French 
versols  passed  soon  after  her  arrival,  Le  Croyable  was  con. 
damned,  and  bought  into  the  navy.  She  was  called  the  Reta. 
liatioB,  and  the  command  of  her  was  given  to  Lieutenant 
Bainbridge. 

l«  Croyable  was,  consequently,  not  only  the  Erst  oaptuie 
made,  in  what  it  is  usual  to  term  the  war  of  1708,  but  she 
was  the  first  vessel  ever  taken  by  the  present  navy,  or  under 
thepresent  form  of  government. 

Tim  activity  empbyed  by  the  administration,  as  well  as  by 
the  navy,  now  astonished  those  who  had  so  long  been  aoou*. 
tomed  to  believe  the  American  people  diqmsed  to  submit  to 
any  insult,  in  preference  to  encountering  the  lossss  of  a  war. 
The  United  States  44,  Captain  Berry,  wmt  to  sea  early  hi 
JuIt,  and  proceeded  to  eniise  to  the  eastward.  I^shlpoer- 
ried  oat  with  her  many  young  gentleoMn,  who  have  sinoe 
risen  to  high  rank  and  dwdnetkm  in  the  service.  But  the  biw 
of  the  0th  of  that  month,  ooourring  immediately  aftefiraitls« 
the  government  altered  its  policy  entirely,  and  iMemiined  to 
aono,  at  once,  a  strong  ibroe  amoog  the  West>India  isleMlh 
when  die  enemy  abowided,  and  where  the  commofoe  of  the 
oooatry  was  most  exposed  to  his  depiedatk»a.  On  the  llth, 
instmotioas  were  sent  to  Otptaio  Barry,  who  now  hoktad  a 
bnMd  pennant,  to  go  off  Cape  Cod,  with  the  Delaweie  90, 
explain  Deoetur,  whare  he  would  And  the  Herald  18,  Captain 
Sevier,  that  oAoer  preferring  active  serviee  in  a  anndl  vesasl, 
to  waiting  for  the  tfigale  to  whkh  he  had  been  moiniad,  and 
than  to  proeeed  diiaotly  to  the  West.UMiies,  keeping  to  wind' 
wud. 

That  welMuMWB  Aigata,  the  OonsthMkai  44,  had  ben 
baMlNdatBoslan,8apiMiber90tbl707|  and  she  Aral  nt 
under  way,  ^uly  SOth  of  this  year,  under  Oaptain  flamael  NU 
oh(riaoo,  who,  in  Augoat,  with  fear  revenue  vannla  in  oem- 
peny,  was  diveeiri  to  onrise  en  the  ooast,  to  the  aoulhwari  et 
OueHnry. 

IBarly  in  Attgost  the  Oonatallalion  W,  Ctalain 'nuxtun,  and 
theilaltfanoie30,0|ptainPhUHpa,  went  te  the  Havana,  and 
hroeghl  a  cenvoy  flf  riity  aail  in  eafety  to  the  Unifed  Btalmi 
•everel  Pkenek  eraiBMfa  sImb  lying  in  the  poR,  ready  to  feilov 
ttenNNhaBtnMn.tal  Ibr  tUa  fercet  the  pieeanee  efwMek 

By  the 


mmmm 


NAVAL    HiSTORT. 


[1196. 


clcM  of  the  year,  a  force  comuiting  of  threo  frigates  olovon 
■looM  and  brigs,  and  nine  imallcr  vcwwU,  wan  at  tea;  mott 
of  the  vewela  being  either  in  tho  Wctt  indies,  or  employed  m 
convoying  between  tho  islands  and  the  United  States. 

Iksidon  llio  vessels  nanwd,  many  more  wore  already  laid 
down  i  and  so  ( rcat  was  tho  zeal  of  the  commercial  towns,  in 
particular,  that  no  less  than  two  frigates,  and  five  large  sloopa 
were  building  by  subscription,  in  the  different  princ.pal  ports. 
In  addition  to  this  force,  must  be  enumerated  eight  larao  gal' 
leys,  that  were  kept  on  the  southern  coest,  to  defend  their 

inlets.  ,     _,       .,    ,4 

It  has  been  stated  that  tho  pnvateer  Le  Croyable  14,  <»p. 
tui«d  by  the  Delaware  20,  had  been  taken  mto  tho  service, 
under  the  name  of  the   Retaliation.    In  November,  1708, 
the  Montezuma  20,  Captain  Murray,  Norfolk  18,  Captain 
Williams,  and  the  Retaliation   12,  Lieutenant-Commandant 
Bainbridge,  wore  cruising  in  company  off  Ouadaloum,  when 
three  suIb  were  made  to  the  eastward,  and  soon  after  two 
more  to  the  westward.    Captain  Murray,  who  was  the  se- 
nior officer,  was  led  to  suppow,  from  circumstances,  that  the 
Teasels  in  the  eastern  board  were  British}  and  speakmg  tho 
Retaliation,  he  ordered  Lieutenant  Bainbridge  to  reconnoitre 
them,  while  with  the  Norfolk  in  company,  he  gave  chase,  hun- 
•elf,  in  the  Montezuma,  to  the  two  vessels  to  the  westwtitl. 
The  Retaliation,  in  obedience  to  these  orders,  immediately 
hauled  up  towards  the  three  strangers,  and  ^ting  near  enough 
for  signals,  she  showed  her  own  number,  with  a  view  to  ascer- 
tain if  they  were  Americans.    Finding  that  he  was  not  under, 
stood.  Lieutenant  Bainbridge  mistook  tho  stranjprs  for  Bngluh 
crtiisers,  knowing  that  several  were  on  the  station,  and  unluck- 
ily permitted  them  to  approach  so  near,  that  when  their  real 
characters  were  ascertained,  it  was  too  late  to  escape.    The 
leading  ship,  a  French  frigate,  was  an  uncommonly  fcst  suler, 
and  she  was  soon  near  enough  to  opan  her  fire.    It  was  not 
long  before  another  firigale  came  up,  when  the  RetaUation  was 
compelled  to  lower  her  flag.    Thus  did  this  unlucky  ▼•""Jw- 
come  the  first  cruiser  taken  by  both  p«rtiea,  m  this  war.     1  he 
frifEates  by  which  the  Retaliation  was  captured,  proved  to  be 
tto  VokMitaire  88,  and  the  Insurgente  89,  the  former  carnring 
44.  and  the  latter  40  guns.    Mr.  Bainbridge  was  put  on  board 
the  Volontaire,  while  the  Iqsurgente,  perceiving  that  iMa 
schooner  was  saie,  continued  to  carry  Mil  in  chase  of  the 


urn, 

'igatm  olovon 
at  aee;  moat 
r  employed  in 
tatea. 

)  already  laid 
rcial  towns,  in 
o  large  aloopa 
rink.pal  porti. 
ight  largo  saU 
>  derend  their 

yable  14,  cap- 
o  the  service, 
■ember,  1708, 
(  16,  Captain 
t*Ck>mmandant 
idaloupe,  when 
KX>n  after  two 

0  was  the  se- 
ances,  that  the 
d  speaking  the 

1  to  recMUKMtre 
ive  chase,  him* 
I  the  westward. 
■,  immediately 
Dg  near  enough 
I  view  to  asoer- 
was  not  under- 
[ersfbrBnriish 
DO,  and  unluck- 
when  their  real 
9  escape.  The 
only  fast  sailer, 
e.  It  vros  not 
Retaliation  was 
lucky  Tessel  be- 
this  war.  The 
i,  proved  to  be 
brmer  carrying 
as  put  on  boara 
»ving  that  the 
n  chase  of  ths 


Ml  ^ 


:  'J' 


tm 


179a] 


W  AT  AL    HiSTOaTt 


MonlMum*  and  Norfolk.     A«  wxm  u  a  prim  crew  could  \m 
Ihrowii  m'ui  the  ItetBllaiion,  tlio  Volontniro  crow<l«l  Mil  «ftnr 
her  coiwoi  t.    The  chwB  now  bncanw  cictiedingly  inU^rwling, 
Iho  two  American  vewwia  being  fully  aware,  by  the  ca^ur*  of 
(ho  iich«»<iiR)r,  that  thoy  had  to  deal  with  an  enemy.     The  In. 
•urgrnto  was  on«     '  ih«  ft!ft"«t  •hip4  in  the  world,  and  her 
C"»nnmn«l«r  m  ofliaT  of  ({rrat  skill  and  rwKjlutitm.     Th«  two 
AmericAH  vwniiela  were  »miill  for  llwnr  ratwi,  and,  ind«)«!d,  were 
over-rated,  the  Monteauma  beinga  liule  thip  of  only  847  tona, 
and  the  Norfolk  a  brig  of  aOO.    Their  armament*  were  merely 
ninea  and  ^ixea  j  ahot  that  would  be  ewiroely  r?ga.^kid  in  a 
conflict  with  frigatca.     The  <»ffi«t  .-n  of  the  Volonlairo  collocted 
on  the  IbrtTCaiille  of  their  ship  to  wilncua  the  chase  ;  and  the  In. 
•urgenta  being,  by  thia  time,  a  long  way  slwad.  Captain  St. 
Lauronl,  the  commander  of  the  VoTontairc,  aaked  Mr.  Bain, 
bridge,  who  waa  standing  near  him,  what  might  be  the  foroc 
r    the  two  American  veaeel*.     With  great  preaencc  of  miod, 
Mr.  Bainbridm  answered,  thai  the  ahip  carritid  'iH  twelves,  and 
the  brig  20  mnea.     Aa  thia  accoimt  quite  doubled  the  real  force 
of  the  Americana,  Captain  Hi.  Laurent,  who  waa  aenior  to  the 
commander  of  the  lAaurgento,  immediately  threw  out  a  aignal 
to  the  latter  to  relinquiah  the  chaao.    This  waa  an  unmilitary 
order,  even  admitting  the  fact  to  have  been  as  stated,  for  th« 
losurgente  would  have  beon  flilly  able  to  employ  two  audi 
vesaeU  until  the  Volontairw  oonJd  come  up ;  but  the  recent  «uo- 
oeasrt  of  the  Bngliah  had  rendered  the  Fnmch  oruiaers  w»rv, 
and  the  Americans  and  English,  aa  aeamcn,  wer«  probably 
identified  in  the  minds  of  tlie  enemy.    The  signal  caused  aa 
much  surpriae  to  Captain  Murray,  in  the  Montesuma,  aa  to 
Captain  Barreault,  of  the  Inaurgente;  for  the  latter,  an  ew»l- 
lent  and  spirited  officer,  had  got  ao  near  hb  chaaea  aa  to  httve 
made  out  their  force,  and  to  feel  certain  of  capturing  both. 
The  signal  waa  obeyed,  however,  and  the  Montesuma  and 
Norf<4k  escaped.  «  _^  • 

When  the  two  French  veeaels  reioined  each  other,  Captain 
Barreault  naturally  eiprmwed  hia  surprise  at  having  beenre- 
called  under  such  circumstances.  An  explanation  foUowwl, 
when  the  rvte  that  had  been  practised  by  Mr.  Baiubndge,  was 
discovered.  It  i»  to  t,Si»  credit  of  the  French  officera,  that, 
while  they  were  much  vexed  at  tho  reaulta  of  thb  artifice,  they 
never  visited  the  ofiitnder  with  their  displeasure. 

The  Uuited  States  44,  and  Delaware  SO,  oaptuiwi  tba  pn- 

n 


180 


NAVAL    m^TOEf. 


IIIW. 


v.t«nr.  S«n.  P.rril  1«.  and  J«lou«  U.  lo  U»  «)U«  of  Um 

with  a  h.rt.ly  cllecUHl,  .n  ini|mrli«tly  rrK«iH-^l.  and  uo- 
^qu-lly  ^^J»^\  -Muadr.*  of  .hip.,  it ..  ir««  i  but  •  «rv« 
Zt  cllaJiJa  th«  ««rm  of  .11  that  i.  n^u\d»M  to  «*k.  «  «>- 
tivf ,  an  ertwient,  and  a  gloriou*  nianna. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

TiiM  vaar  1799  opened  with  no  departure  from  the  policy 
bid  down  by  the  government,  and  the  building  an.l  equipping 
S?  t^TlfcLl  «&  in  variou.  part,  of  the  country,  we« 
1«^  wUh  a.  much  d.ligen.:«  a.  the  publ«  "^'^.'""^ 
th«r«llow  In  the  oourw)  of  thin  mMmm,  many  vewwb  were 
Ltc"»l^:and!Utofthemgotto«..^^^^^^ 
ding  all,  thow  that  were  employed  n  1798,  »>«7  'r^  ^f" 
Tt'in  cUmiMion  oarly  m  tin,  enaumg  y«*'--"j  .\»^  '^ 
Were  enabled  to  quit  port  nearer  to  it.  clow,  the  entire  acUW 
«^  forc«  of  th!  Unlu-d  H.ate..  in  1799.  would  Mem  to  hafe 
been  compowd  of  the  following  vo«wl.,  v« : 

Uniled8tate» 44.        Delaware JJ. 

Con.titutioo 44,        Baltimore »». 

C5ongr««i ^8.        S"»T'; S' 

Conitollation 88.        Maryland »». 

EMex 89.        »««'«• ?■• 


GeMeral  Oroene 88, 

Boaton ^8, 

Adam. 88. 

John  Adam. 98» 

PorUmouth 94, 

Connecticut '4, 

Qange. '4, 

G«o.  Waahiagtoo,  . .    34. 

Merrunaok '4, 

To  Ibaae  m«t  be  added  a  few  «»««««/«^'^~f'ir^ 
of  thi.  dwcriptioo  of  cruiaer.  ffmt  to  ha»e  bew  kept  on  th. 


Norfolk IJt 

Richmond 18, 

Pinckney 18. 

Warren 18» 

Baele. JJ. 

PicBering 14, 

Auguata 14, 

Scammel 14» 

BnterpriM l'* 


.,j£k 


■M 


itM.) 


NAVAL     HliTOAV. 


lit 


OOMt  ihrnu||h(>ut  this  y«mt.  Aa  yot,  Ihn  gr«<atail  i:unfliaiun  and 
irra|{uiarity  pmvailetl  in  Itw  ratinKi  no  uuii'urm  ayalom  a|ipi*r> 
ing  to  havn  bmtn  aibipUMi.  Thtt  vtwwtU  built  by  tb<'  iIiI'mkiiI 
ci«it'«,  niiil  (iroNiitititil  en  Ih*  |)ubli«!,  iii  iiartuMilnr,  wi-m  mriil  iiw 
hi((h,  I'roin  ii  iMlurnI  «tt<«ini  to  tnnkn  Itm  otliiriiiK  a*  r«iiiMt.lnblo 
a«  |><i«Mi(l>|.< ;  nnil  it  iloii*  nut  a|i|M'nr  tci  h«v<i  lutin  ihnuglil  «■»(»«- 
ii^at,  >>a  Iho  part  of  iho  govtirnriittiit,  itmnMliiraly  t«  coritwl 
IIm  :nial«^k«a. 

i'ta  the  erh  of  Fcbrimry,  ihn  (^in«l«ll«lion  iW,  OomnuHlorv 
Truitun,  waa  cruiainx  on  Hit  |»r»^«Tili»Hl  ((round,  Nnvia  Utaring 
W.  H.  W.,  diatant  fivn  litemimw,  wbrii  aiin  rnndti  a  lnrK«'  ahip 
in  thn  aouthorr  board.  Thn  ( lunatcllntion  biiing  to  windward 
at  tho  momunt,  CunirmMloro  Truktun  ran  down  lowarda  lh« 
■tnngar,  who  now  aet  American  colour*,  wlwn  the  private 
aignalN  wore  ahown.  Aa  tho  chaan  waa  uimblo  to  answer,  h« 
aenmod  U»  think  fijrlhflr  diaguiao  unnoccMiiry,  for  ho  hoiatod 
th«i  Kn-nch  cnaign,  nnd  fir«««l  a  gun  to  windward,  by  wny  of  a 
challenge,  ke«'ping  under  eaay  aail,  to  invito  th«  cx)ntnit.  Thia 
wiu  thn  firat  opportunity  that  had  occurred  ainco  tho  cU*-  of 
tho  Revolution,  fnr  an  Anntrican  vnaatil  of  war  to  gut  alon^aido 
of  an  oncniy,  of  a  fortio  likuly  to  ronder  a  oonibat  curtain,  nnd 
tho  offiw-m  nnd  im-n  of  tho  (^inalvllntion  diM|iliiy<>d  the  grtvitoat 
eagtirncM  to  cngngo.  On  lh«  other  hand,  the  atrangur  be- 
trayed no  deaire  to  diaappoint  liia  onomy,  waiting  gallantly  for 
her  to  come  down.  When  the  Conatollalion  had  got  abeam  of 
the  French  frigato,  and  ao  near  aa  to  huve  berm  ai!veml  tinioa 
hailed,  ahe  opened  her  fire,  which  wnn  rcturntMJ  promptly  and 
with  apiril.  The  (Jonatellation  drew  gradually  ahuul,  both 
Nhi[ta  maintaining  a  fierce  cannonade.  The  formor  auffered 
moat  in  hor  aaila  and  rigging,  ond  while  under  the  hcavioat  of 
the  Are  of  her  antagoniat,  the  fonstopmaat  waa  badly  wounded, 
quite  near  the  lower  cop.  Tho  for«f-tr>p  wua  commanded  by 
Mr.  David  PorU^r,  a  midahipmon  of  great  promiae,  and  finding 
that  hia  haila  to  oommunicato  thia  important  circumatanco  were 
diore^rded,  in  the  heat  of  tho  combat,  thia  young  officer  took 
«n  himoelf  the  reoponaibility  of  cutting  the  atoppen  and  of 
lowering  the  yard.  By  thua  relieving  the  apar  of  the  preaaure 
of  the  oail,  he  prevented  tho  fall  of  the  topmaat  and  all  ita 
hamper.  In  the  mean  time  the  weight  and  effe<',t  of  the  firo  wore 
•Itogether  in  Aivoui  of  the  (Jonotdlatioa,  and  notwithatandinf 
the  li^iury  ahe  receired  in  her  fore-topmoot,  that  ahip  waa  aooo 
•hie  to  Uuow  in  two  or  three  raking  broodakka,  which  decided 


^ 


••^mm 


132 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


(1799. 


the  combat.  After  maintaining  a  cloae  contest  of  about  an  hour, 
the  Constellation  shot  out  of  the  smokr,  wore  round,  and  haul- 
ing athwart  her  antagonist's  stern,  was  ready  again  with  every 
gun  to  rake  her,  when  the  enemy  struck. 

The  prize  proved  to  be  the  French  frigate  Tlnsurgente,  Cap. 
tain  Barreault,  the  vessel  that  has  already  been  mentioned,  as 
having  captured  the  Retaliation,  and  chasing  the  Montezuma 
and  Norfolk,  and  one  of  the  fastest  ships  in  the  world.  She 
was  much  cut  up,  and  had  sustained  a  loss  of  70  men,  in 
killed  and  wounded ;  20  of  the  former,  and  41  of  the  latter. 
The  Constellation,  besides  the  loss  of  the  fore-topmast,  which 
had  to  be  shifted,  was  much  damaged  aloft,  sufiering  no  mate- 
rial injury  in  her  hull,  however,  and  had  only  8  men  wounded. 
Among  the  latter,  was  Mr.  James  M'Donough,  a  midshipman, 
who  had  a  foot  shot  off.  Early  in  the  combat,  one  of  the  men 
flinched  from  his  gun,  and  he  was  killed  by  the  third  lieuten- 
ant,  to  whose  division  he  belonged. 

The  Insurgente's  armament  consisted  of  40  guns,  French 
twelves,  on  her  main-deck  battery,  and  her  complement  of  men 
was  409.  She  was  a  ship  a  little  heavier  than  a  regular  82, 
which  would  probably  have  been  her  rate  in  the  English  ma- 
rine, although  a  French  twelve-pound  shot  weighs  nearly  thir- 
teen English  pounds.  On  this  occasion,  the  Constellation  is 
said  to  have  carried  but  88  guns,  twelve  less  than  have  been 
put  upon  her  since  the  introduction  of  carronadea,  and  she  had 
a  crew  of  809  men.  But  the  main-dock  battery  of  the  Con- 
stellation was  composed  of  twenty-fours,  a  gun  altogether  too 
heavy  for  her  size  and  strength,  and  from  which  she  was  re- 
lieved at  the  termination  of  this  cruise,  by  exchanging  her 
armament  for  eightwns. 

The  Insurgente  struck  about  half  past  three  in  the  afternoon, 
and  Mr.  Rodgers,*  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Constellation,  to- 
aether  with  Mr.  Porter,t  and  eleven  men,  were  thrown  on 
board  her,  to  take  possession,  and  to  superintend  the  removal 
of  the  prisoners.  It  b^n  to  blow,  and  when  the  darkness 
rendered  it  necessary  to  Sebt  the  duty,  178  of  the  prize's  crew 
were  still  in  her.  The  wind  continued  to  rise,  and,  notwith- 
standing every  effort,  the  ships  separated  in  the  darkness. 

The  situation  of  Mr.  Rodgers  was  now  exceedingly  critical. 
The  vessel  was  still  covered  with  the  wreck,  while  the  wound- 


*  Late  CMiimodors  Rodger*. 


t  CoBunodon  Potter. 


1799.] 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


133 


(1799. 

ut  an  hour, 
,  and  haul* 
with  every 

^nte,  Cap- 
ntioned,  aa 
Montezuma 
orld.  She 
JO  men,  in 

the  latter, 
naat,  which 
ig  no  mate* 
a  wounded, 
lidshipman, 

of  the  men 
lird  lieuten- 

ins,  French 
tient  of  men 
r^^lar  82, 
Snglish  ma< 
nearly  thir* 
itellation  is 
have  been 
uid  she  had 
of  the  Con- 
together  too 
ihe  was  re- 
langing  her 

le  afternoon, 
tellation,  to- 
thrown  on 
the  removal 
he  darkness 
prize's  crew 
nd,  notwith- 
irkness. 
igly  critical. 
I  the  wound- 

sPottw. 


ed,  and  even  the  dead  were  lying  scattered  about  her  decks, 
and  the  prisoners  early  discoverH  a  disposition  to  rise.  The 
gratings  had  been  thrown  overboard  by  the  people  of  the  In- 
surgente  after  she  struck,  and  no  handcuffs  could  be  found. 
Fortunately,  Mr.  Rodgers  was  a  man  of  great  personal  resolu- 
tion, and  of  herculean  strength,  while  Mr.  Porter,  though 
young  and  comparatively  slight,  was  as  good  a  second,  in  such 
trying  circumstances,  as  any  one  could  desire.  As  soon  as  it 
was  ascertained  that  the  prisoners  could  not  be  got  out  of  the 
ship  that  night,  they  were  all  sent  into  the  lower  hold,  the  fire- 
arms were  secured,  and  a  sentinel  was  placed  at  each  hatch- 
way, armed  to  the  teeth,  with  positive  orders  to  shcwt  every 
man  who  should  attempt  to  appear  on  deck,  without  permis- 
sion. In  this  awkward  situation,  Mr.  Rodgers  and  his  party 
continued  three  days,  unable  to  sleep,  compelled  to  manage  a 
frigate,  and  to  watch  their  prisoners  with  the  utmost  vigilance, 
as  the  latter  were  constantly  on  the  look-out  for  an  opportunity 
to  retake  the  ship.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  they  carried  the 
Insuivente,  in  triumph,  into  St.  Kitts,  where  they  found  that 
the  Ckinstellation  had  already  arrived. 

One  of  the  dl^ts  of  thb  victory  of  the  Constellation  was  to 
render  the  navy  still  more  popular,  and  the  most  respectable 
families  of  the  naticm  discovered  greater  anxiety  than  ever  to 
get  their  sons  enrolled  on  its  lists.  The  new  ships  were  put 
mto  the  water  as  fast  as  possible,  and,  as  soon  as  manned  and 
equipped,  were  smt  on  the  different  cruising  grounds.  L'In- 
surgente  was  taken  into  the  service  as  a  thirty-six,  the  com- 
mand of  her  was  given  to  Captain  Murray,  late  of  the  Monte- 
zrnuL  20,  tani  she  wsj  permitted  to  cruise  with  t  roving  com- 
missioo. 

In  the  mean  tinrd,  the  care  of  the  government  appeared  to 
extend  itself,  and  it  be^n  to  cast  its  eyes  beyond  the  hazards 
of  the  American  seas. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  the  Congress  88,  Captain  Sever, 
and  Essex  82,  Captain  Preble,  sailed  with  orders  to  convoy 
vessels  as  far  as  Batavia.  The  former  of  these  vessels  met 
with  an  accident  to  which  all  new  ships  are  liable^on  quitting 
America  in  the  winter.  »  Her  rigging  having  been  set  up  in 
oold  weather,  it  became  slack  when  she  got  into  the  gulf 
stream,  where  she  also  moountered  a  strong  southeriy  rale, 
and  she  lost  not  odly  all  her  masts,  but  her  bowsprit.  The 
main-mast  went  while  Mr.  Boswortb,  the  fourth  Ueutenant,  was 
aloft,  endeavouring  to  lower  the  roain-t(^n»st,  by  which  aod* 
18 


,i,iiM«e:'M>,9t!aii!Wit-fe*i,^^ 


DM)*)" 


'mmfmmm 


r'ttw 


184 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[1799. 


dent  that  officer  wtu  lost.    The  crow  of  the  top  wen  all  hap' 
pily  aaved. 

The  CongreaB  returned  tc  port,  for  repairs,  but  Captain  Preble 
proceeded  on  his  cruise,  carrying  tho  pennant,  for  the  first  time 
m  a  regular  cruiser,  to  the  eastward  of  tho  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

The  active  measures  resorted  to  by  the  American  govern- 
ment having  better  dispoHed  that  of  France  to  negotiate,  and 
pledges  having  been  given  that  new  ministers  would  be  re- 
oeived  with  more  respect  than  had  been  shown  to  those  last 
sent,  who  had  met  with  insults  and  neglect,  the  United  States 
44,  Commodore  Barry,  sailed  from  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  on 
the  8d  of  November,  having  on  board  envoys  to  the  French 
Directory.  Notwithstanding  these  measures  to  obtain  peace, 
Consress  proceeded  in  the  legislation  necessary  to  establish  a 
marine.  Many  of  the  laws  for  the  government  of  the  navjr 
wore  amended,  and  new  regoiations  were  introduced  as  substi- 
tutes  for  such  of  the  old  ones  «■  were  found  defective.  The 
appropriation  for  the  support  of  the  navy,  during  the  year  1800, 
the  marine  corps  included,  amounted  to  93,488,958  90. 

The  new  year  consequently  opened  with  increased  efforts 
to  continue  the  singular  war  that  had  now  existed  eighteen 
months.  Many  acquisitions  were  made  to  the  navy,  and  the 
following  is  a  list  of  the  vessels  that  appear  to  have  been  em- 
ployed in  the  course  of  the  season,  principally  in  the  West-la- 
dins,  viz : 


United  States 44, 

Constitution 44, 

<*resident 44, 

'lionstellation 86t 

Congress 38, 

Chesapeake 88, 

Philadelphia 88, 

New  York 36, 

Insurgente 80, 

Bssex 88, 

General  Greene 28, 

Adams 28, 

Tohn  Adams 28, 

Boston 28, 

Qeo.  Washington ....  24, 

Connecticut 34, 

Ganges 24, 

Trumbull 24, 


Portsmouth 94, 

Merrimack 84, 

Delaware 20, 

Baltimore 20, 

Maryland 20, 

Patapwx) 20, 

Herald 18, 

Norfolk 18, 

Richmond 18, 

Pinckaey 18, 

Warren 18, 

E^le 14, 

Pickering 14, 

Augusta 14, 

Scammel 14, 

Enterprise 12, 

Experiment 12. 


•mmt^iMmf 


{11W> 


1799.] 


NATAL     HISTORY, 


135 


By  this  time,  the  revenue  vessels,  with  the  exception  of  one 
or  two,  appear  to  have  been  retained  at  home,  and  in  the  fore* 
going  list,  no  mention  is  made  of  galleys.  Laws  had  been 
previously  passed  fur  the  construction  of  six  sovcnty-fours,  and 
contracts  wore  already  made  for  the  collection  of  the  necessary 
materials. 

The  cruising  portion  of  the  vessels  were  distributed  in  two  ' 
principal  squadrons,  the  one  un  the  St.  Domingo  station  under 
the  orders  of  Commodore  Tulbot,  whose  broad  pennant  was 
flying  in  the  Constitution  44,  and  the  other  on  the  Guadaloupe 
station,  under  the  orders,  first  of  Commodore  Truxtun,  in  the 
Constellation  88,  and  next  under  the  orders  of  Commodore 
Decatur,  in  the  Philadelphia  88.  The  force  of  the  former 
varied  from  seven  to  twelve  vessels,  while  that  of  the  latter,  in 
April,  consisted  of  thirteen  sail. 

Notwithstanding  this  exhibition  of  a  respectable  and  active 
force,  the  great  facilities  offered  by  the  islands,  and  the  strong 
temptations  that  were  to  be  found  in  the  American  West- India 
trade,  then  one  of  the  most  considerable  of  the  country,  induced 
the  enemy  to  be  constantly  on  the  alert,  and  the  seas  were  still 
swarming  with  French  cruisers,  principally  privateem.  Gua- 
daloupe, in  particular,  was  distinguished  for  the  number  of 
captures  made  by  its  vessels ;  and  it  was  for  this  reason  that 
we  now  find  the  heaviest  American  squadron  cruising  in  that 
vicinity. 

On  the  Ist  of  February,  1800,  the  Constellation  38,  Com- 
modore  Truxtun,  was  again  off  the  island  of  Guadaloupe, 
alone,  Basseterre  bearing  east  five  leagues,  when  a  sail  was 
seen  to  the  southeast,  steering  westward.  Commodore  Trux- 
tun at  first  supposed  the  ship  in  sight  to  be  a  large  English 
merchantnuui,  from  Martinico,  of  which  he  had  some  know- 
ledge, and,  unwiilina  to  be  drawn  to  leeward  of  his  cruising 
ground,  he  hoisted  English  colours,  by  way  of  inducing  her  to 
run  down  and  speak  him.  This  invitation  being  disregarded, 
sail  was  made  in  ch&  <>,  the  Constellation  gaining  fast  on  the 
stranger.  As  the  fom^r  drew  nearer,  the  ship  to  leeward  wnf 
discovered  to  be  a  French  vessel  of  war,  when. the  English 
colours  were  hauled  down,  and  the  Constellation  cleared  for 
action.  The  chase  was  now  distinctly  made  out  to  be  a  heavy 
frigate  mounting  62  guns.  As  her  metal  was  in  all  probability 
equal  to  her  rate,  the  only  circumstance  to  equalise  this  dis- 
parity against  the  Constellation,  was  the  fact  that  Jie  stranger 


iMi 


^ 


180 


NAVAL    HIITOET. 


(1779. 


was  very  deep,  which  was  accounted  for  by  a  practice  of  Bond- 
ing valuable  articles  to  France,  at  that  time,  in  the  ships  of 
war,  as  the  safest  means  of  transmission.  Commodore  Trux- 
tun  was  not  discouraged  by  his  discovery,  but  continued  to 
carry  every  stitch  of  canvass  that  would  draw.  Towards 
noon,  however,  the  wind  became  light,  and  the  enemy  had  the 
advantagi}  in  sailing.  In  this  manner,  with  variable  breezes, 
and  a  smooth  sea,  the  chase  continued  until  noon  on  the  2d, 
when  the  wind  freshened,  and  the  Constellotion  again  drew 
ahead.  By  the  middle  of  the  allernoon,  the  wind  had  every 
appearance  of  standing,  and  the  chase  was  rising  fast.  It  was 
eight  in  the  evening,  nevertheless,  before  the  two  ships  were 
within  speaking  distance  of  each  other,  the  stranger  having 
come  up  to  t^  vind  a  little,  and  the  Constellation  doubling  on 
her  weather  rter.  Commodore  Truxtun  was  auout  to  speak 
to  the  enemy,  when  the  latter  opened  a  fire  from  his  stern  and 

au&rter  guns.  In  a  few  moments  the  Constellation,  having 
rawn-still  more  on  the  weather  quarter  of  the  chase,  poured  in 
a  broadside,  and  the  action  began  in  earnest.  It  was  a  little 
past  eight  when  the  firing  commenced,  and  it  was  maintained 
with  vigour  until  near  one  in  the  morning,  the  two  ships,  most 
of  the  time,  running  free,  side  by  side,  when  the  stranger 
hauled  up,  and  drew  out  of  the  combat.  Orders  were  given 
on  board  the  Constellation  to  brace  up  in  chase ;  but  at  this 
moment,  a  report  was  brought  to  Commodore  Truxtun  that  the 
main-matt  was  supported  almost  solely  by  the  wood,  every 
shroud  havins  been  shot  away,  and  many  of  them  so  repeatedly 
cut  as  to  render  the  use  of  stoppera  impossible.  At  that  time, 
as  has  been  said  already,  masts  were  usually,  in  the  American 
navy,  of  single  sticks,  and  the  spars,  when  they  gave  way, 
went  irUtogethier.  Aware  of  this  danger.  Commodore  Truxtun 
ordered  tia  men  from  the  guns,  to  secure  this  all-important 
mast,  with  the  hope  of  getting  alongside  of  hu  enemy  again, 
and,  judging  b^  the  feebleness  of  her  resistance  for  the  last 
hour,  with  the  certainty  of  taking  her,  could  this  object  be 
efiected.  But  no  exertion  could  obviate  the  calamity,  the 
roast  coming  by  the  board  within  a  few  minutes  after  the  ene> 
my  had  sheered  off.  All  the  topmen,  including  Mr.  Jarvis, 
the  midshipman  in  command  aloft,  went  over  the  side  with  the 
spars,  and,  that  gallant  young  officer,  who  had  refused  to 
abandon  his  post,  with  all  but  one  man,  was  lost. 
The  Constellation  was  no  longer  in  a  situation  to  retume 


^s** 


llll'.LIJI 


[1779. 


1800.] 


NATAL    HIITORT. 


137 


the  action,  and  hor  onomy  wai  in  a  far  wonro  condition,  with 
the  exception  that  sho  still  retained  spars  enough  to  enable  her 
to  escape.  Finding  it  J.Tipossiblo  to  reach  any  friendly  port  to 
windward,  as  soon  as  the  wreck  wos  clear  of  hiti  ship.  Com- 
modore Truxtun  boro  up  for  Jamaica,  where  ho  arrived  in 
safety. 

In  this  close  and  hard-fought  action,  the  Constellation  had 
14  men  killed  and  26  wounded,  11  of  the  latter  dying  of  their 
injuries.  Her  antagonist  afterwards  got  into  Curatjoa,  dis- 
masted, and  in  a  sinking  condition,  reporting  herself  to  have 
had  50  of  hor  people  killed,  and  110  wounded,  in  an  engage- 
ment with  the  Constellation,  that  had  lasted  five  hours  within 
pistol-shot.  This  statement  is  now  known  to  be  essentially 
true,  und  it  en  bles  us  to  form  a  comparative  estimate  of  th« 
meriU  of  the  action.  The  French  vessel  proved  to  be  la  Ven- 
geance, Captain  Pitot. 

The  armament  of  the  Constellation  had  been  changed  si'^ce 
her  action  with  the  Insurgente,  and  her  main-deck  battery 
now  consisted  of  28  eighteens,  and  she  had  10  twenty-four- 
pund  carronades  on  her  quarter-deck,  which  were  among  the 
first,  if  not  the  very  first  guns  of  this  description  ever  intro- 
duced into  the  American  navy.  Her  crew  waa  compoaed  of 
810  souls. 

The  force  of  la  Vengeance  has  been  aMsertained  to  have 
been  28  eighteens,  16  twelves,  and  8  forty-two-pound  carron- 
ades. Her  crew  has  been  variously  staled  as  having  been  be- 
tween 400  and  000  men.  The  metal  was  all  according  to 
the  Freoch  mode  of  weighing,  which  adds  one  pound  to  every 

There  is  no  question  that  the  Constellation  engaged  a  ma- 
terially superior  force,  or  any  doubt  that  she  would  have 
brought  la  Vengeance  into  port,  but  for  the  leas  of  the  mast. 
It  is  even  said  that  la  Vengeance  did  strike  l.dr  colours  three 
times,  during  the  action,  but  finding  that  the  Constellation  con- 
tinued her  fire,  they  were  re-hoisted.  If  such  an  event  oc- 
curred, it  must  have  arisen  ftom  the  ikct  that  it  was  not  per- 
ceived  in  the  obwjurity  of  the  night.    Commodpre  Truxtun 

Eined  a  great  name  by  thia  actkm,  and  on  his  return  to 
nerica  for  repairs,  he  waa  a-  point© .  to  the  President  44,  then 
fitting  for  sea.  Consress  gave  him  a  g-H  r-«dal  for  his  ^^wd 
conduct,  and  the  gallantry  of  Mr.  Jarvis  was  approved  m  a 
solemn  re«)lutk>n.  The  Ccwstellation  wa*  i.ow  given  to  Cap- 
tun  Murray,  who  had  just  returned  ftwn  «  short  cruise  in  the 

la* 


138 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[1800. 


In«urgonte,  and  that  officer  went  in  hor  to  the  Wegf-Indioi, 
whcro  sho  joined  the  Hquudron  under  Coinmodoro  Talbot. 

Tho  liittor  officer  had  been  cruising  for  uomo  months  on  tlic 
St.  Domingo  station,  and  about  this  time  ho  planned  an  oxim!' 
ditioa  that  was  quite  in  characUT  with  his  own  personal  enter- 
priies  during  tho  war  of  tho  Revolution. 

It  was  ascertained  that  a  valuable  French  letter  of  rnarquo, 
was  lying  in  Port  Platte,  a  small  harbour  on  the  Spanish  side 
of  the  Island  of  St.  Domingo,  and  as  she  was  a  dangerous  ship 
on  account  of  her  sailing,  (Jommodoro  Talljot  determined  to 
attempt  cutting  her  out.  This  vessel  had  been  the  British 
packet  tho  Sandwich,  and  she  only  waited  to  complete  a  cargo 
of  coffee,  to  make  a  run  for  Franco.  The  legality  of  the  enter- 
prise was  more  than  questionable,  but  the  Frunch  picaroons 
received  so  much  favour  in  the  Spanish  colonies,  that  the 
American  officers  were  less  scrupulous  than  they  might  other- 
wise have  been. 

As  soon  as  it  was  determined  to  make  the  effort,  Mr.  Hull, 
tho  first  lieutenant  of  the  Constitution  went  in,  at  night,  with 
one  of  tho  frigate's  cutters,  and  reconnoitred.  Commodore 
Talbot  was  compelled  to  defer  the  expedition,  for  want  of  a 
craft  proper  to  avoid  suspicion,  when  fortunately  one  was 
found  by  accident.  An  American  sloop  called  the  Sally  had 
been  employed  on  the  coast  of  the  island,  under  circumstances 
that  rendered  her  liable  to  detention,  and  she  was  brought  out 
of  one  of.  the  snrall  French  porta,  by  a  boat  of  the  frigate. 
This  sloop  had  recently  lefl  Port  Platte,  with  an  intention  of 
soon  returning  there,  and  she,  at  once,  afforded  all  the  facilities 
that  could  be  desired. 

Commodore  Talbot,  accordingly,  threw  a  party  of  seamen 
and  marines  into  the  Sally,  and  giving  the  command  to  Mr. 
Hull,  that  officer  was  directed  to  proceed  on  the  duty  without 
ilirther  delay.  The  sloop  was  nnanned  at  sea,  to  escape  de- 
tection, and  she  sailed  at  an  hour  that  would  enable  her  to 
reach  Port  Platte,  about  noon  of  the  succeeding  day.  In  the 
course  of  the  night,  while  running  down  for  ner  port,  under 
easy  sail,  a  shot  suddenly  flew  over  the  Sally,  and,  soon  after, 
an  English  frigate  ranged  up  alongside.  Mr.  Hull  hove-(o, 
and  when  the  boarding  lieutenant  got  on  the  sloop's  dock, 
where  he  found  so  large  a  party  of  men  and  officers  in  naval 
uniforms,  he  was  both  startled  and  surprised.  He  was  told 
the  object  of  the  expedition,  however,  and  expressed  his  disap- 


[i8oa 


1800.] 


NAVAL     HISTORT, 


139 


pointment,  u  hl«  own  ship  was  only  waiting  to  let  the  Sand- 
wich complcto  her  cargo,  in  order  to  cut  her  out  herKlft 

The  Sally'«  inovementH  were  so  well  tinHid,  a«  to  permit  her 
to  arrive  off  tho  harbour's  mouth  at  the  pro|)or  hour.  The 
Sandwich  was  lying  with  her  broadside  bearing  on  tho  ap- 

t roach,  and  there  was  a  battery  at  no  great  distance  to  protect 
er.  As  soon  ns  near  enough  to  bo  seen,  Mr.  Huit  sent  most 
of  his  peoplo  below,  and  getting  on  anchor  ready  over  the 
stern,  to  bring  tho  sloop  up  with,  he  stood  directly  for  the 
enemy's  bows.  So  odmirably  was  every  thing  arrnngrd,  that 
no  suspicion  was  excited,  the  Sally  ran  the  Sandwich  nboord, 
and  tho  Constitution's  peoplo  went  into  her,  and  carried  her  with- 
out tho  loss  of  a  man.  At  the  same  moment,  Captain  Car- 
mick  landed  with  the  marines,  entered  tho  battery,  and  spiked 
the  guns. 

Notwithstanding  a  great  comnsotion  on  shore,  the  Aroencans 
now  went  to  work  to  secure  their  price.  The  Sandwich  was 
stripped  to  a  girtline,  and  every  thmg  was  below.  Before  sun- 
set sne  had  royal  yards  across,  her  guns  were  scaled,  her  new 
orew  was  quartered,  and  soon  after  she  weighed,  beat  out  of  the 
harbour,  and  joined  the  frigate. 

No  enterprise  of  the  sort  was  ever  executed  with  greater 
steadiness,  or  discipline.  Mr.  Hull  gained  groat  credit  by  the 
neatness  with  which  he  fulfilled  his  orders,  and  it  was  not  pos- 
sible for  an  officer  to  have  been  better  sustained ;  the  absence 
of  loss,  in  all  cases  of  surprise,  in  which  the  assailed  have  the 
means  of  resistance,  being  one  of  the  strongest  proofs  not  onlv 
of  the  gallantry  and  spirit,  but  of  the  coolness  of  the  assail* 

ants. 

In  the  end,  however,  this  capture,  which  was  cleariy  tllegal, 
cost  the  Constitution  dear.  Not  only  was  the  Sandwich  given 
up.  but  all  the  prijte  money  of  the  cruise  went  to  pay  damages. 

Eariy  in  May,  the  Chesapeake  86,  went  to  set.,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  S.  Barron.  Her  first  duty  waj,  to  0'>avey 
a  quantity  of  specie  from  Charleston  to  Philadelphia,  after 
which  she  proceeded  to  cruise  between  the  coast  and  the  West- 
India  islands. 

The  Insurgente  86  had  been  given  to  Captain  Fletcher, 
when  Captain  Murrav  ^"^  transferred  to  the  Constellation, 
and  in  July  she  sailed  on  a  cruise,  with  instructions  to  keep 
between  longitudes  66°  and  68°,  and  to  run  as  far  south  as 
80°  N.  L.  After  this  ship  left  the  capee  of  Virginia,  no  au- 
tlientio  accounts,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  private  letters 


W 


140 


NAYAL    HIITOftT. 


[1100 


•cnt  in  by  veii»cls  spoken  at  sea,  were  over  rocflived  of  hor. 
Sho  had  boon  urdcrcd  to  cruiao  a  short  time  in  tho  latitude  and 
longitude  nMintioned,  a(U>r  which  her  commander  was  lefl  at 
liberty  to  pursue  his  own  discretion,  provided  ho  returned  to 
Annapolis  within  eight  weeks.  Thirty-nine  years  have  elapsed 
and  no  (Urthcr  tidings  of  any  belonging  to  this  iiUfated  ship 
have  ever  reached  their  friendn. 

The  Pickering  14,  Captain  Hillar,  also  sailed  in  August,  for 
the  Guadaloupo  station,  and  never  returned.  As  in  th?  case 
of  tho  Insurgcnte,  all  on  board  perished,  no  informatioi.\  that 
could  be  relied  on  ever  having  boon  obtained  of  tho  manner  in 
which  those  vessels  wore  lost.  Vague  rumours  wore  set  akioat 
at  tho  time,  and  it  was  even  atHrinod  that  thoy  had  run  foul 
of  each  other  in  a  gale,  a  talo  that  was  substantiated  by  no 
testimony,  and  which  .was  probably  untrue,  as  tho  Pickering 
was  sent  to  a  station,  which  the  Insur^nte,  under  discretionory 
orders,  would  bo  littlo  opt  to  seek,  smce  it  was  known  to  be 
already  filled  with  American  cruisers.  Those  two  shipH  swelled 
the  list  of  veaaela  of  war  that  had  been  lost  in  this  manner  to 
three,  viz  s  the  Saratoga  16,  the  Iniuroente  86,  and  the  Pick* 
ering  14 ;  to  which  may  be  added  the  Reprisal  16,  though  the 
cook  of  the  latter  sloop  was  saved. 

The  nature  of  tho  warfare,  which  was  now  confined  princi- 
pally to  chases  and  conflicts  with  small  fast-sailing  privateers, 
and  a  apeeiei  of  conair  that  went  by  the  local  name  of  pica- 
roons, or  with  barges  that  ventured  no  great  distanoe  at  sea, 
soon  satisfied  the  jgovemment  that,  to  carry  on  the  service  to 
advantage,  it  required  a  species  of  vessfal  difierant  from  the 
heavy,  short,  sloop  of  twenty,  or  twenty-four  guns,  of  which 
■o  many  were  used  in  the  beginning  of  the  contest.  Two 
ichooners  had  been  built  with  this  view,  and  each  of  them 
fully  proved  their  superiority  over  the  old  clumsy  cruiser,  that 
had  been  inherited,  as  it  might  be,  from  the  Revolution.  One 
of  these  vessels  was  called  the  Experiment,  and  tho  other  the 
Enterprise,  and  they  were  rated  at  twelve  guns.  The  modern 
improvements,  however,  did  not  extend  to  the  armaments  of 
even  these  schooners,  the  old-fashioned  six-pounder  being  still 
used,  where  an  181b.  carronade  would  now  be  introduced. 
The  Enterprise,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Shaw,  was  very  ac- 
tive this  year,  capturing  la  Citoyenne,  privateer,  of  6  guns  and 
47  men ;  la  Seine  6,  and  57  men ;  I'Aigle  10,  and  78  men ; 
la  Pauline  6,  and  40  men ;  and  la  Guadaloup^ne  7,  ard  40 
men.    Most  of  these  vessels  resisted,  though  nei   «r  waa  of  a 


IM 


ttmmum 


[1800 


um 


NAVAL    HISTORY* 


141 


(brofl  to  allurd  murh  hopo  uf  lucceai.  La  Citoy<tnnfl  had  4 
killMJ  and  1 1  wouiKknl  bofora  she  itruck  ;  la  Huino  made  nn 
obstinate  reaiatanco,  holding  out  until  ■hi)  had  34  or  hnr  crow 
kilietl  and  woundod,  which  waa  near  half  her  oomploment  | 
and  l'Ai|{l«  luat  12  mon,  nmonK  whom  waa  hor  flrat  linutnnant, 
in  an  nctiun  of  fitlven  minutoa.  In  the  last  aflair  tho  Hnter* 
priao  had  three  men  killed  and  wounded. 

Near  tho  cloao  of  her  cruiae,  the  Kntorpriae  made  a  strange 
•ail  a  long  diatancc  to  windward,  laie  in  the  day,  and  hauled 
up  for  her.  Night  coming  on,  tho  chaao  waa  loat  sight  of  in 
the  darknesa,  when  tho  si^hooner  hovo-to,  to  keep  her  station. 
When  the  day  dawned  tho  airangor,  a  brig,  waa  aoon  to  wind* 
ward  aa  before,  and  nearly  in  tho  position  in  which  aho  had 
last  been  observed.  Both  vessela  now  discovered  a  disposition 
to  close.  At  noon  tho  Enterpriae  made  th«J  American  aignai, 
which  was  not  anawercd,  the  brig  ahowing  English  coloura. 
The  signals  that  had  been  established  between  the  English  and 
the  American  commanders  were  next  shown,  but  the  stranger 
could  not  reply.  Believing  the  brig  to  be  an  enemy  of  a  force 
at  least  equal  to  hia  own,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Shaw  now 
sot  his  enaign  as  a  challenf^  to  come  down,  but,  inatead  of 
complying,  the  chase  immediately  hauled  his  wind.  The  En* 
terprise  booan  turning  to  windward  on  short  tacks,  and  sailing 
uncommonly  fast,  it  waa  soon  apparent  that  the  enemy  would 
be  overhauled. 

As  soon  aa  the  French  were  aatisfied  that  escape  waa  im- 
possible,  they  cleared  for  action,  and  waiting  until  the  Entnr* 

{rise  waa  within  half  a  mile  to  leeward,  they  began  to  fire, 
nslead  of  returning  a  gun.  Lieutenant  Commandant  Shaw 
kept  the  schooner  under  all  her  canvass,  and,  about  half  an 
liour  after  the  brig  had  opened  on  him,  he  tacked  in  her 
wake,  and  ranged  up  handsomely  under  her  lee,  within  pistol* 
shot.  As  her  guns  bore,  the  Enterprise  now  poured  in  a  close 
and  destructive  fire,  which  lasted  (or  a  little  more  than  an  hour, 
when  the  brio's  fofe-to|Mnast  being  shot  away,  and  the  vessel 
otherwise  seriously  injured,  she  etruok. 

The  price  waa  the  Flambeau  privateer.  She  mounted  14 
guns,  and  had  mora  than  100  men.  Her  loea  waa  very  heavy, 
about  half  her  crew  having  been  killed  and  wounded.  The 
Enterprise  bad  8  men  kilM  and  7  wounded.  Thu  little  aflbir 
was  considered  one  of  the  wannest  combats  of  the  war,  and 
it  is  seldom  that  so  sharp  a  eoofUct  occurs  between  vessels  of 
so  small  a  force. 


■«Kmm««miMt«SP*MBBMaMHMMBMnMI 


T 


14a 


NAVAL     HilTOET. 


iiiiOO. 


Lknitonant  Shaw  wiu  justly  npplauckid  Ibr  hi*  activity  while 
in  coininand  of  ihii  nrhtiuitur,  n«i'apturinff  ol«v«n  Americaa 
vcmmuIm,  lMmi*)<><i  talcing  ihimi  jitut  in«ntiorHNT,  in  a  cruiiitrornniy 
oight  iimhi'Im.  It  wa«  n  priKtl'  of  tho  ^n'atnr  ntficU^itcy  uf  thin 
lioacription  of  vcsat^l  than  any  utiwir,  in  a  worfarn  of  such  A 
itaturt),  tlidt  the  l'^l«rpriao,  a  achoonor  of  only  160  tona,  car* 
ryinK  an  arntainoot  of  ISI  light  gunt,  and  with  a  crew  that 
varimi  fnjm  (10  to  IB  nuen,  (l«»troy»?d  moro  of  the  onemy'i  pri« 
vatourti,  and  airummi  aa  much  prol*>i;tion  to  tho  trade  of  th« 
oountrvt  aa  any  friuala  »!mployisd  in  thfl  war. 

lei  Marcht  the  IkMton  'iB,  Captain  LittM,  heing  near  th« 
Point  of  Bt.  Mark*,  having  »  nwrchant  hrig  in  tow,  on  her 
way  to  Porf-an.Prince,  nine  bargna  were  di»covorcd  pulling 
towartfa  tho  voaaola,  cwnina  from  (ho  umall  iainnd  of  Uonaivmi, 
with  every  appearnnw'©  of  hmitiln  intontiotu.  The  l)«rg»!t  wc«rB 
large,  aa  usual,  pi)tl«id  'Mi  oara,  and  contained  from  Mi  to  40 
men  each.  Ai  soon  as  thoir  charactera  were  properly  made 
out,  the  guns  of  tho  Ronton  WT>ro  houwd,  and  the  ahip  waa  other* 
wiae  disguiiiod.  Thia  iitrotng<!ni  NUcc(>«Hied  «o  ftir  aa  to  draw 
tho  bar^4<i  within  gun-ahot ;  but  diacovtring  ih«<ir  miitako  l>> 
fore  they  got  nii  m^ar  ba  vwM  be  wished,  thtiy  turned  and  b<>< 

rio  retreat.  Tho  Boatort  now  caat  off*  her  tow,  made  mu\ 
shaae,  ran  wit  her  guna,  and  opened  her  flns.  For  two 
houra  ahe  waa  enablod  to  keep  aume  of  the  bargmi  wrthin 
roarh  of  hor  ahot,  and  thrtw  of  them,  with  all  their  crewa, 
were  aunk.  The  remaind(<r  did  not  earitfM!  without  receiving 
more  or  losa  injury. 

After  thia  ptjnishment  of  the  pic^roona,  which  were  often 
guilty  of  the  gnjaaest  ex'jeaaea,  the  Boaton,  havinp  been  home 
to  refit,  waa  dimcted  tn  cruiae  a  abort  time,  previooaly  to  go- 
ing on  the  Gtiadaluupe  atation  again,  between  tho  American 
ooaat  and  tho  West-India  iaianda.  Whiie  in  the  diacharge  of 
tliia  duty,  Novenbor,  1800,  in  lat.  28"  50  N.,  and  long,  ftl" 
VV.,  ahe  made  a  Prenoh  cruiaer,  which,  inatnul  of  avoiding 
her,  evidently  aought  an  encounter.  Both  partiea  behtg  witl- 
ing, the  ahipa  weni  soon  in  cloar  action,  when,  after  a  plain, 
hard-fought  combat  of  two  houra,  the  enemy  struck.  The 
priie  proved  to  be  the  Preoeh  oorvettfl  le  Berc^u,  Captain 
Senes,  mounting  li4  guna,  and  with  a  crrw  a  little  exctx^liiig 
800  men.  The  Beroeau  waa  much  rut  up,  and  ahortly  after 
the  aetbn  her  fore  and  main-maata  went.  Her  loaa  in  killed 
and  wounded  waa  never  aaoertained,  but  fWun  the  number  of 
the  latter  fiHind  io  iter,  it  wm  probably  betwaaa  80  and  40 


T 


"■tin 


etivity  while 
tt  AmoricMn 
ruimrof  only 
i'licy  of  thi» 
n  of  tuch  « 
M  tons,  car- 
•  crnw  Ifwl 
si>*>my'i  pri- 
;ra(je  of  th*) 

ng  near  the 
tow,  on  her 
srod  pulling 
[>r  GonnivMi, 
Ixirgwi  were 
m  80  to  40 
operly  made 
ip  waa  other- 
'  aa  to  draw 
miitako  l>»^- 
ned  and  b^ 
V,  made  aait 
B.  For  two 
trgea  wtthin 
their  crewa, 
lUt  receiving 

I  were  often 
;  been  homo 
ioualy  to  go- 
ho  American 
diacharge  of 
•d  long.  Al" 

of  avoiding 
I  being  wjll- 
fter  a  plain, 
truck.  The 
cau,  Captain 
le  exceeding 
shortly  after 
Ma  in  kilied 
I  number  of 

80  aad  40 


NAVAL     HISTORTt 


148 


invn.  Among  the  r»rnM>r  wore  her  finit  lieulrnanl,  mauler, 
Iwatawain,  and  gunmtr.  The  B<MUin  muunled  oight  mort;  light 
guna  than  tiie  it4>r<  eati,  aiiri  ha<l  af  tut  an  c>qual  number  of 
men.  Hhe  had  4  hilled  and  II  wouiMknl.  Among  the  lattiir 
waa  Iter  puraf.>r,  Mr.  Young,  who  di«d  of  hi*  injuriea.  The 
Benx?au  waa  a  ainguiarly  liiir  viuanl  of  her  claaa,  and  had  the 
nputation  of  b)»ing  uno  of  tite  liiatOMt  ahipa  in  the  French  ma" 
line.  !Uke  the  combat  between  the  ( ^onatelialion  and  rinaur« 
m>\\Xt\  the  :>uperioritv  of  fore*  waa  certainly  in  Oivour  of  the 
AmorUian  ihip,  on  thiu  oi-^aaion,  but  the  execution  waa  every 
way  II.  projwrtion  to  the  ditfercnoe. 

The  year  IHOO  waa  artively  employed  on  both  aidea  in  th« 
Weat'ludiM,  fur  while  the  force  uf  tm  French  in  voaaek  of 
war  aeemed  to  (inoreaae,  aa  thc«a  of  England  and  Ameriea 
incrniaiKl,  the  pnvatcora  :;till  abounded.  A  great  n  tny  Ame* 
nt^an  inerchuutiiN^n  were  captured,  and  the  rocnpturea  alao 
antounted  'o  a  number  that  it  la  now  dtificult  to  aaoertain,  but 
winch  ia  known  to  have  been  large.  Moat  of  the  prvnteen 
were  amail  aohoonera,  fiilad  with  men,  aiiffioient  to  subdue  a 
letter  of  marque  by  boarding ;  but,  a»  they  oflbml  no  reaiat> 
anco  to  any  of  the  cruiaera  except  tlie  smallest,  a  brief  cata- 
logue of  tlw  pri/<  "<  laktin  by  'tie  diffi  vnt  lar^e  vt<saels,  will  at 
mice  give  au  idea  uf  the  naluro  of  tiie  aervice  that  was  per* 
formed  by  the  Weat-India  aquadronN  during  thia  year.  The 
Baltimore  30,  Captain  Cowpor,  took  In  Brilliante  Jeuneaae  IS, 
with  a  crew  of  62  men,  an<l  a  voaael  whuee  name  is  not  known  ( 
the  Merririiack  24,  Captain  Brown,  the  Phenix  14,  with  138 
men ;  the  Connecticut  34,  Captain  Tryon,  le  Pi^ge  2,  with  50 
men,  ri)nit4  1,  with  50  men,  and  le  Chou  Chou ;  the  Boston 
86,  Captain  Little,  la  Fortune,  I'Heureus,  and  an  open  boat ; 
Pickering  1 4,  Captain  Hillar,  la  Voltigeuae  10,  with  60  men, 
the  Ply,  ami  (Active  12,  with  00  men;  Boston  32,  in  compa- 
ny with  diffim  nl  veaaeia,  the  Flying  Fiah,  la  (Jourde,  le  Peli- 
can, and  I'Em(m>i,  ;  Herald  18  and  Augusta  1  1,  la  Mutinn  6, 
with  00  men ;  John  Adama  38,  Captain  ("roas,  !u  Jason,  with 
60  men,  la  Dao*de ;  the  Trumbull  34, 1  nptain  Jewett,  la  Piag> 
fie,  la  Vengeatioe  10,  and  la  Tullie;  Bntfsrpriws  13,  LieuteH' 
•nt  Commandant  Sterrett,  I'AnKMir  de  la  P-frie  6,  with  79 
net:;  the  Patapaco  18,  Captain  Geddee,  Is  Dorafie  6,  with 
40  meo;  the  Adama  36,  ('-aplain  Morria,  I'Heureuae  Rencon- 
tre 4,  with  00  men,  1«  Oambeau,  4  awiveia  and  10  men,  It 
Banommfc,  the  DoVe,  and  le  Maaaem  0,  with  40  ntten.  Sev. 
«nl  of  tbft  inpim  also  made  priiH  of  (hflhraat  anuiU  prsva- 


iMlH 


•li 


M 


144 


NATAL     HiSTOEV. 


{laoe 


tiwni,  bnrffRii,  Kn<i  bwaUi  j  iin«l  many  ytrnmrh  w«r»t  rhuwMl  on 
•horf,  «inl  «iilh«ir  lUtuJmyiil  by  ImmU  or  wi'r«  biljptl  in  utrikitiK. 
The  privatfmra  Ukcii  ami  brought  into  mtrt,  during  thci  ymn 
1708,  170V,  and  imo,  amouiitml  in  all  to  rather  more  than 
Afty  Miil.  To  ihoM  mual  \m  ai!d(!<l  wiveral  lattera  of  nwrque. 
But  fow  iiwrchant  ahiiMi  wcro  lnk«ni,  tliti  Fr«nrh  venturing  but 
little  on  the  oof*an,  mcopt  in  leiMt-iNtilinK  ariiHHl  vimmAu.  Hlill, 
aomo  vnluftbli)  prinea  of  thi«  naturo  wrm  rnnde,  and  aevural 
ahipa  of  thia  ciaaa  worn  driven  aahoro  niiHing  the  ialandn. 

Tho  cunatnnt  changoa  that  occurred  nmon)^  tiw  commander* 
of  thit  ditRmint  voMcIa,  render  it  difficult  to  give  clear  occounta 
of  the  nvjvriwnl'  of  both.  Th«!KO  chanjp'a  were  owing  to  the 
rapidity  and  irm«iilnriti<'«  of  the  prixiu-tionn  in  nn  infant  aer« 
vice,  ofHcern  who  w«tnl  out  at  tho  comirn»nctnnent  of  tho  acn* 
•on  lieutenanla,  in  many  iiwtnncea,  returning  hwn*'  captaina, 
at  its  cloao.  In  iihort,  the  officrra,  like  tho  crewa,  wore  con. 
atantly  paaaing  from  voaaci  to  veiuel,  aevoral  aerving  in  two  or 
thrmi  HhiiM  in  aa  many  yonm. 

Tlie  Kx|>t?rim<jnt  Vi,  mad«  her  fimt  cruiae  under  tho  com- 
mand  of  Lieutenant  (Jommandttni  Muloy,  and  waa  much  em- 
ployed in  omivoying  through  lh<!  narrow  [loaaagna,  where  tho 
veaaela  were  cipooed  to  attackn  iVom  large  barges  manned 
fram  the  shoroii.  About  the  clow)  of  th«  year  1709,  or  at  tha 
oomiiiniifxinKint  of  1800,  thia  •chof)ner  wos  becalmed  in  the 
Bight  of  Leogane,  with  aevoral  anil  of  American  morchantm«n 
in  company  and  under  convoy.  While  the  little  fleet  lay  in 
thia  holpleoa  rxxtdition,  a  good  deal  acattered,  ten  of  tho  barjgea 
mentioned,  filled  with  negroea  and  mulattoen,  ciimo  out  againat 
it.  The  barges  contained  from  30  to  40  men  each,  who  wore 
armed  with  muaketa,  cutliiiiaes,  and  pikea,  nnd  in  aomo  of  the 
boata  were  light  guna  and  swivels.     Aa  the  Exj>crim<int  was 

Crtially  disguised,  the  enemy  came  within  reach  of  her  grape 
fore  tho  aasault  was  made,  when  Lieutenant  Comnuuidant 
Maley  ran  out  his  guns  and  opened  his  fire.  This  was  the 
commonccment  of  a  long  conflict,  in  which  tho  barges  were 
beaten  off.  It  wos  not  in  the  power  of  tho  Eipcriment,  how- 
ever, to  prevent  the  enemy  from  seiaing  two  of  her  convoy, 
which  had  drifted  to  such  a  diirtance  as  to  bo  beyond  protec- 
tion. \  third  v(  «i«el  was  alst)  board(>d,  but  from  her  the  brif< 
ands  were  driven  by  grape,  though  not  until  they  had  murder* 
ed  her  moater  and  plundered  the  cabin. 

The  befrges  wont  twice  to  the  shore,  landed  their  killed  and 
wounded,  and  took  on  board  reinforcemeots  of  meo.    The 


■■«■ 


[tsoe 

I  rliMcti  on 
I  ill  utrikiiiK- 
K  th«  yi^nrn 
more  than 
of  nwrqiH*. 
mill  ring  but 

UK>|||.  8(ill, 
mill  Mvnral 
Mlnndii. 
rammanden 
Mr  account* 
(iwing  to  thr 
I  infant  mt- 

of  tho   •€«" 

iK«  captains, 
I,  wore  con* 
ng  in  two  or 

flf  tho  com* 
■  much  om- 
R,  whoro  thn 
ges  manned 
09,  or  at  the 
ilmod  in  tho 
norchantmen 
I  fleet  lay  in 
of  thr  barges 
10  out  against 
:h,  who  wore 
Homo  of  iho 
M<rimont  was 
of  her  grape 
Comnmndaiit 
Phis  was  the 
barges  were 
riment,  how- 
her  convoy, 
yond  protec- 
her  the  brig* 
had  murder- 
sir  killed  and 
fmea.    Tiw 


IMM.) 


NAVAL     HIITOMT. 


145 


Mcond  Ulaok  they  nuKln  wim  dimcltMl  mptwially  at  the  Ki< 
pMimenl,  (hero  brtii|^  no  I<'m  ihnn  thrnn  chviaion^  of  the  enemy, 
Meh  of  which  ( -otilaiiitxl  (hn'«i  hi'nvy  liargi<s.  ilut,  alter  a  pro- 
tracted iingagiinwtit,  which,  with  th«i  intermissions,  lasted  seven 
hours,  the  (ineiny  abainloiKxl  lUrth<rr  designs  on  this  convoy, 
and  rntriiated  in  diaordnr.  The  Ki|mriiiK*nt  ondeaviHired  to 
ISillow,  by  iiNrans  of  her  swen|t<«,  but  liiidiiig  that  some  of  the 
iiHiro  dutant  of  the  barges  thmntentil  two  of  h«r  ronvoy  that 
hod  drilled  out  of  gun-shot,  she  was  obliged  to  give  up  the 
chose. 

In  this  arduous  and  protracted  engagement  the  Kiperiment 
was  fought  with  spirit,  and  liandltHi  with  skill.  The  total  ab> 
•enco  ol  wind  gave  the  eiioiny  nvery  advantage ;  but  notwith* 
atanding  their  vast  superiority  in  numbers,  they  did  not  dare 
to  close.  Two  of  the  bargee  were  sunk,  and  their  lose  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  known  to  have  been  heavy,  while  th« 
Kxperiment  had  but  two  wounded,  one  of  whom  was  Lieutenant 
David  Porter. 

Shortly  tiller  thia  nflhir,  the  cuinniand  of  the  KxrNirirn«<nt  was 
given  to  Lieutenant  Charlee  Htowsrt,  lato  of  thu  IJnited  Htatea 
44.  Not  long  aAer  he  had  got  upon  his  statwn,  this  officer 
fell  in  with,  and  took,  after  a  slight  resistance,  the  French 
privateer  lea  IJ«ux  Amis,  of  8  guns,  and  between  40  iind  00 
men.     The  Deux  Amis  waa  sent  in. 

About  a  month  after  this  occurrence,  while  cruising  on  her 
station,  the  Experiment  made  two  sail,  which  had  the  appear* 
once  of  enemy's  cruisers.  The  Frenchmen  were  a  brig  of 
18  guns.  Hid  a  three-masted  schooner  of  14,  and  they  gave 
chase  to  tho  American.  Lieutenant-Commandant  Htewart, 
having  soon  satisfied  himself  of  tho  supf-rior  sailing  of  his  own 
vessel,  manoeuvred  in  a  way  to  separate  tho  eneniv,  and  to 
keep  them  at  a  distance  until  after  dark.  At  length,  finding 
that  the  Frenchmen  had  given  up  the  chase,  and  that  the  brig 
was  aliout  a  U<a2ue  ahona  of  the  iich<x)ner,  he  cleared  for  ac- 
tion, clofle<i  with  the  latter,  bv  running  up  on  her  weather 
quarter,  and  gave  her  a  broadside.  The  attack  was  so  vigor- 
ous and  close,  that  the  enemy  struck  in  a  few  minutei.  Throw- 
ing his  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  David  Porter,  into  the  prize,  Lieu- 
tenant-Commandant Stewart  immediately  made  sail  aftnr  the 
brig ;  but  nhc  ;,n<^  gained  so  much  ahead,  during  the  time  lost 
with  tho  M^hooner,  that  she  was  soon  abandoned,  and  the  Bi- 
periment  returned  to  her  prise,  which  she  carried  into  St.  Kitt*. 
IS 


iliMHi 


146 


NAVAL    HISTOBY 


[180O. 


Mr.  Stewart  probably  owed  his  success  to  the  boldnesd  of  his 
manneuvres,  as  the  brig  was  of  a  force  sufficient  to  capture 
him  in  a  few  minutes. 

The  vessel  taken  by  the  Experiment  proved  to  be  the  French 
man-of-war  schooner  la  Diano,  Lieutenant  Perradeau,  of  14 

Sns,  and  about  60  men.  She  was  bound  to  France,  with 
tneral  Rigaud  on  board ;  and  in  addition  to  her  regular  crew, 
80  invalid  soldiers  had  been  put  in  her,  having  served  their 
time  in  the  islands.  Her  commander  had  been  the  first  lieu* 
tenant  of  Tlnsurgente,  and  the  prize-officer  of  the  Retaliation. 
Returning  to  her  station,  the  Experiment  had  next  a  combat 
tLat  was  of  a  less  agreeable  nature.  A  suspicious  sail  had 
been  made  in  the  courue  of  the  day,  and  chase  was  given  until 
dark.  Calculating  the  courses  and  distances,  Lieutenant-Com- 
mandant Stewart  ordered  the  Experiment  to  be  kept  in  the  re- 
quired direction  until  midnight,  when,  if  he  did  not  close  with 
the  Mtranger,  he  intended  to  give  up  the  chase.  At  that  hour, 
the  schooner  was  hauled  by  the  wind,  accordingly ;  but,  in  a  few 
minuics,  ^  sail  was  seen  quite  near,  and  to  windward.  The 
Experiti^nt  went  to  quarters,  ran  up  under  the  stranger's  lee, 
and  hailed.  Finding  the  other  vessel  indisposed  to  give  an 
answer,  Lieutenant-Commandant  Stewart  oraered  a  gun  fired 
into  him,  which  was  returned  by  a  broadside.  A  sharp  action 
now  commenced,  but,  it  blowing  heavily,  and  the  schooner 
lying  over,  it  was  found  impossible  to  depress  the  guns  suffi- 
ciency to  hull  the  enemy.  Planks  were  cut  and  placed  be* 
neath'the  trucks  of  the  gun-carriages,  when  the  snot  of  the 
Experiment  told  with  so  much  eflbct,  that  her  antagonist 
struck.  Mr.  Porter,  the  fint  lieutenant  of  the  Experiment, 
was  directed  to  take  possession  of  the  prise,  but,  on  getting 
alongside,  he  was  refused  permission  to  board.  At  soon  as 
this  was  known  in  the  schooner,  the  boat  was  directed  to  pull 
out  of  the  line  of  fire,  with  a  view  to  re-oommenoe  the  action, 
when  thb  stranger  hailed  to  SAy  he  submitted. 

This  vessel  proved  to  be  a  privateer  called  the  Louisa 
Bridger,  out  of  Bermuda,  with  an  armameot  of  8  nine-pound* 
en,  and  a  crew  of  between  40  and  60  men.  She  was  muob 
cut  up,  and  had  four  feet  water  in  her  hold  when  she  surren* 
dereih    Her  captain  was  among  the  wounded. 

As  soon  as  the  nature  of  this  unfortunate  mistake  was 
known,  every  aid  was  aflbrded  the  privateer,  the  Experiment 
lying  by  her  all  next  day,  to  assist  in  repairing  her  damages. 


[180O. 

botdneaa  of  hb 
lent  to  capture 

>  be  the  French 
irradeau,  of  14 

0  Franco,  with 
r  regular  crew, 
ng  served  their 
n  the  fint  lieu- 
the  Retaliation. 

1  next  a  combat 
licious  sail  had 
was  given  until 
lieiitenant-Com- 
9  kept  in  the  ra- 
I  not  close  with 

At  that  hour, 
ly ;  but,  in  a  few 
indwai^.  The 
a  stranger's  lee, 
aed  to  give  an 
ired  a  gun  fired 

A  sharp  action 
d  the  schooner 

the  guns  suffi- 

and  placed  be* 
the  shot  of  the 

her  antagonut 
he  Experiment, 

but,  on  getting 
d.  As  soon  as 
directed  to  pull 
enoe  the  action, 

ted  the  Louisa 

f  8  nine-pound* 

She  was  much 

hen  she  surren- 

ile  mistake  waa 
the  Bxperimeot 
g  ber  oamages. 


1800-01.] 


NAVAL    HISTORT. 


147 


The  Experiment  received  a  good  deal  of  injury  in  her  rigging, 
and  had  one  man  killed,  and  a  boy  wounded. 

Active  negotiations  had  commenced,  and  in  the  autumn  of 
1600  the  hopes  of  peace  became  so  ntrong,  that  the  efforts  to 
increase  the  navy  were  sensibly  relaxed,  and  the  sailing  of 
many  ships,  that  had  been  intended  for  distant  stations,  was 
suspended. 

Negotiations  for  peace  with  France  had  been  going  on  at 
Paris,  and  a  treat}  >  that  effect  was  ratified  by  the  Senate,  on 
the  8d  of  February,  1801.  All  the  necessary  forms  having 
been  complied  with  on  both  sides,  the  tierald  18,  Captain  Rus- 
sel,  was  sent  to  the  West-Indies,  with  orders  of  recall  for  the 
whole  force. 

Thus  ended  the  short  and  irregular  struggle  with  France, 
in  which  the  present  marine  of  the  United  Sta'es  was  founded, 
most  of  the  senior  officers  now  in  service  liaving  commenced 
their  careen  as  midshipmen  during  its  existence. 

The  commencement  of  the  year  1801,  was  distinguished  by 
a  change  of  administration,  for  the  first  time  since  tm  adoption 
of  the  constitution ;  Mr.  Jefierson  and  his  political  friends,  who 
were  usually  known  by  the  name  of  the  republican  pArty,  ez- 
pellug  the  federalists  from  power.  A  president  of  the  United 
States,  however,  is  little  more  than  an  executive  officer  while 
confined  to  the  circle  of  his  constitutional  duties;  and  the 
Congress  that  terminated  on  the  4th  of  March,  1801,  the  day 
the  change  occurred,  had  passed  a  law,  in  some  measure  regu- 
lating a  peace  establishment  for  the  navy.  This  law  save 
great  discretionary  authority  to  the  president,  it  is  true ;  ror  it 
empowered  him,  whenever  he  should  deem  it  expedient,  to  sell 
any,  or  all  of  the  vessels  of  the  navy,  with  the  exception  of 
thirteen  of  the  frigates,  which  were  named  in  the  act,  if,  jn  his 
c^inion  the  good  of  the  country  might  require  it.  To  this  part 
of  the  law  no  great  objections  could  be  taken,  even  ky  the 
friends  of  an  enlarged  and  liberal  policy,  as  most  of  the  rest^ 
not  excepted  had  been  bought  into,  and  were  unsuited  to  tbd 
service,  more  especially  at  a  period,  when  new  improvements 
>a  naval  architecture,  that  hav*!  been  borrowed  from  the  French 
were  fast  superseding  the  old  mode  of  construction. 

The  law  also  directed  the  gunt  and  stores  of  the  vteels  sola 
to  be  preserved ;  a  provision  that  proved  singularly  unpiofita- 
ble  in  the  end,  aa  tlie  carronade  now  hBgut  to  supersede  the , 
small  long  gun,  and  two  of  the  sloops  would  probably  have 


Hssi 


ailiii 


148  NATAL     HI8T0BT.  [1»1. 

fiiniished  all  the  nines  and  sixes  thai  have  been  used  in  the  navy 
for  the  last  five-and-thirty  years.  The  great  error  of  this  law 
was  in  the  limitation  it  set  to  the  number  of  the  different  ranks 
of  officers.  Thb  whole  of  the  sea^jfficers,  sailmg-masters  ex- 
oepted,  were  confined  to  nine  captains,  thirty-six  lieutenants, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  midshipmen;  the  rank  of  master 
commandant  being  abolished,  should  the  president  see  fit  to  dis- 
charge those  then  in  commission.  The  phraseology,  as  well 
as  the  provisions  of  this  law,  betrayed  that  ignorance  of  the 
details  of  the  service,  which  ha»  been  so  common  m  the  legis- 
lation of  the  country,  omittinji  many  directions  that  were  mdis- 
pensable  in  practice,  and  laying  stress  on  others  that  were  of 

little  or  no  moment.  j     .k- 

The  administration  of  1801  exercised  its  authority  under  the 
statute,  which,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  enacted  previously 
to  its  accession  to  office,  with  a  reasonable  discreUon ;  and 
though  it  may  have  made  a  fcvr  of  those  mistakes  that  are  in- 
cidental to  the  discharge  of  aU  such  trusts,  it  conformed  to  the 
spirit  of  the  law,  with  a  due  regard  to  Ubernlity.    The  selec- 
tion of  the  officew  to  be  retained  was  one  of  great  delicacy  and 
importance,  as  the  ftiture  character  of  the  np  vv  depended  more 
on  the  proper  discharge  of  this  duty  than  on  that  of  any  other. 
The  great  defect  of  the  law,  indeed,  was  the  narrow  limits  to 
which  the  list  of  the  superior  sea^ifficers  was  confined,  it  being 
at  all  times  easier  to  build  ships,  than  to  form  professronal  men 
fit  to  command  them.    This  part  of  his  delegated  duties  the 
president  discharged  in  ijerfect  good  faith,  apparently  altogether 
disregarding  party  considerations. 

Although  some  meritorious  officers  were  necessanly  dis- 
missed, on  this  occasion,  there  is  no  question  that  the  navy 
was  greatiy  benefited  by  the  reduction;  the  humed  manner 
in  which  the  appointments  were  originally  made,  having  been 
the  means  of  introducing  many  persons  into  the  service  who 
were  unfitted  for  its  duties. 

The  law  of  Ck)ngress  directed  that  thirteen  vessels,  named 
in  the  act,  should  not  be  disposed  of,  leaving  it  discretionary 
with  the  president  to  sell  the  remainder  or  not.  The  following 
ships  were  retained,  viz : 

Constitution ^» 

United  States **» 

President **i 


mmumwiMiii 


■MMMilMI* 


[1801. 

used  in  the  navy 
irror  of  this  law 
I  different  ranks 
ing-masters  ex> 
•six  lieutenants, 
rank  of  master 
3nt  see  fit  to  dis- 
leology,  as  well 
gnorance  of  the 
non  in  the  legis- 
that  were  indis* 
3rs  that  were  of 

thority  under  the 
acted  previously 
discretion;  and 
akes  that  are  in- 
Bonfonned  to  the 
lity.  The  selec- 
reat  delicacy  and 

^  depended  more 
at  of  any  other, 
narrow  limits  to 
confined,  it  being 
professional  men 
igated  duties  the 
irently  altogether 

necessarily  dis- 
m  that  the  navy 

hurried  manner 
ade,  having  been 
>  the  service  who 


tWl.]  NATAL    HIBTORT.  149 

Congress 88, 

Constellation 88, 

Chesapeake 88, 

Philadelphia 88, 

New  York 80, 

Essex 89, 

General  Qreene 38, 

Boston 38, 

Adams 38, 

John  Adams 38, 

Enterprise , 13. 

The  reduction  of  the  navy  was  greatly  exaggerated  at  tht 
time,  so  far  as  the  vessels  alone  were  concerned.  At  the  peace 
with  France,  the  cruising  vessels  in  the  service  were  thirty- 
four  in  number,  and  of  these,  fourteen  of  the  best  wbre  retained. 
No  frigate,  unless  the  George  Washington  could  be  considered 
one,  was  sold,  and  this  ship  had  been  purohased  into  the  ser- 
vice, and  not  built  for  the  public.  As  regards  force,  materially 
more  than  one-half,  perhaps  four-fiflhs,  waa  preserved,  the 
eight  largest  frigates  retained  beins  more  than  strong  enou|pi 
to  contend  with  all  the  vessels  sol£ 

•  18» 


m  vesseb,  named 
J  it  discretionary 
t.    The  following 


•  •  •  4^> 

...44, 


MMMl 


MSHiMiiiiiiMliiiiiiiHi^^ 


130 


NATAL    HIBTORT. 


riNi 


^ 


) 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Wb  have  now  reached  the  period  when  the  American 
marine  assumed  a  fixed  and  permanent  character.  No  more 
reductions  were  anticipated  by  ihoso  who  understood  the  ne- 
cessities of  the  country,  nor  have  any  ever  been  seriously  at* 
tempted. 

As  early  as  in  1800,  the  Bashaw  of  Tripoli,  Juasuf  Cara- 
Rialli,  who  had  deposed  his  brother  Hainet,  and  now  sat  on 
the  throne  of  this  dependency  of  the  Porte,  manifested  a  dispo* 
sition  to  war.    He  had  learned  the  concessions  made  to  Al- 
giers, the  manner  in  which  the  Dey  of  that  regency  had  been 
bribed  to  do  justice,  and,  by  a  course  of  reasoning  that  was 
certainly  plausible,  if  not  true,  he  inferred  that  the  government 
which  had  been  induced  to  pay  tribute  to  one  pirate,  might  be 
i;iduced  to  pay  tributs  to  another.    The  complaints  on  which 
this  semblance  of  royalty  grounded  his  justiiication  for  war, 
are  such  as  ought  to  be  gsnerallv  known.    He  accused  the 
American  sovemntent  of  having  bribed  the  subordinates  of 
Tunis  at  a  higher  price  than  it  had  bribed  him ;  he  added,  that 
Algiers  had  received  a  frigate,  while  he  had  received  none ; 
and  even  in  a  letter  to  tlw  president  he  said  significantly,  in 
reply  to  some  of  the  usual  diplomatic  profession  of  friendship, 
«  we  could  wish  that  these  your  expressions  weie  followed  by 
deeds,  and  not  by  empty  words.    You  will  therefore  endea- 
vour to  satisfy  us  by  a  good  manner  of  proceeding" — *'  But  if 
only  flattering  words  are  meant,  without  performance,  every 
one  will  act  as  be  finds  convenient.    We  beg  a  speedy  answer, 
without  neglect  of  time,  as  a  delay  on  your  part  cannat  but  be 
prejudicial  to  your  interests.** 

Shortly  after,  the  Bashaw  informed  the  American  consul  at 
Tripoli,  that  he  would  wait  six  months  for  a  present  in  money, 
and  if  it  did  not  arrive  within  that  time,  he  would  formally 
declare  war  against  the  United  States.  Juasuf  Canmalli  was 
as  good  as  his  word.  No  tidings  of  the  money  having  reached 
Tripoli,  the  flas-staff  of  the  American  consulate  was  cut  down 
on  the  14th  of  May,  1801,  and  war  was  proclaimed  inthti  act. 
While  Tripoli  went  so  directly  to  work,  difficulties  existed 
with  the  other  states  of  Barbary.    Algiers  complained  that  the 


mam 


mm 


mm 


riNi 


leoi.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


151 


the  American 
ter.  No  more 
iratood  the  ne> 
in  soriously  at* 

i,  Jtusuf  Cara* 
nd  now  sat  on 
lifested  a  dispo* 
IS  made  to  Al- 
l^ncy  had  been 
jning  that  was 
the  government 
}irate,  might  be 
iainta  on  which 
cation  for  war, 
He  accused  the 
subordinates  of 
;  he  added,  that 
received  none; 
significantly,  in 
ci  of  friendship, 
eie  followed  by 
berefore  endea* 
ding"_»«  But  if 
formanoe,  every 
speedy  answer. 
It  cannatbut  be 

erican  consul  at 
esent  in  monev, 

would  formally 
f  Canmalli  was 

having  reached 
te  was  cut  down 
timed  in  thtt  act. 
fiiculties  existed 
nplained  that  the 


tribute  was  in  arrears,  and  Tunis  found  fault  with  the  quality 
of  various  articles  that  had  been  sent  lo  her,  by  way  of  bribing 
her  not  to  seiae  American  vostois.  Certain  planks  and  oars  t* 
were  too  short,  and  guns  of  a  iMrticular  description  were  much 
wanted.  Morocco  was  also  distrusted,  althou|{h  the  prince  of 
that  country  had  not  yet  doighod  to  intimate  his  wishes. 

INmid  as  was  the  policy  of  the  United  Status,  and  disgrace* 
ful  as  was  that  of  all  Christendom,  at  that  period,  in  refennoa 
to  the  Barbary  powors,  the  former  was  too  much  flushed  with 
its  recent  rucccbscs  against  Franco,  and  too  ^roud  of  its  infant 
marine,  to  submit  to  all  these  exactions  without  resistance. 
Before  it  was  known  that  Tripoli  had  actually  declared  war,  a 
squadron  was  ordered  to  be  fitted  for  the  Mediterranean,  with 
a  view  to  awe  the  different  sovereigns  of  Barbary,  by  its 
presence.  The  vessels  selected  for  this  purpose  consisted  of 
the  President  44,  Captain  J.  Barron ;  Philadelphia  86,  Captain 
S.  Barron ;  Essex  3S,  Captain  Bainbridge,  and  Enterprise  13,  u. 
Lieutenant  Commandant  Sterrett.  At  the  head  of  this  force 
was  Captain  Dale,  an  officer  whose  career  'vc  have  had  fire- 
quent  occasion  to  notice,  and  who  now  hoisted  his  broad  pen* 
iiant  in  the  President  44. 

The  ships  rendezvoused  in  Hampton  Roads,  and  sailed  lor 
their  place  of  destination.  On  the  1st  of  July  they  anchored 
at  Gibraltar,  where  they  found  the  Tripolitan  admiral,  a  rone* 
gado  of  the  name  of  Lisle,  in  a  ship  of  26  guns,  with  a  brig 
of  16,  in  company.  There  is  no  question  that  the  timely 
appearance  of  the  American  squadron  prevented  these  two  ^ 
vessels  from  getting  into  the  Atlantic,  where  they  might  have 
struck  a  severe  blow  at  the  oommeroe  of  the  country.  The 
admiral,  however,  protested  there  was  no  war,  though  the 
information  derived  firom  other  sources,  induced  Commodore 
Dale  to  distrust  his  sincerity.  The  Essex  was  sent  al<Mig  the 
north  shore  to  collect  the  American  trade,  and  to  give  it  con- 
voy ;  the  Philadelphia  was  ordered  to  cruise  in  the  straits  to 
watch  the  two  Tnp(>lit«n"i  while  the  President  and  Enterprise 
shaped  their  course  towards  Algiers,  as  ordered.  The  latter, 
however,  soon  parted  company  from  the  Preside ^i?  u  i  duty. 

The  appearance  of  a  ship  of  the  President's  ft  ic  it  Algiera  . 
and  Tunis,  had  an  extremely  quieting  eflRwt  on  the  resentments  1/ 
of  their  two  princea ;  and  Mr.  O'Brien,  the  consul  at  the  formt 
regency,  save  it  as  his  qunion,  that  the  arrival  of  the  aqua<!Kn 
m  the  MfSiterranean,  had  more  weight  in  prosenring  the  pea«^, 


■MMMiMai 


MBCMMtfMMM 


189 


NATAL    MIBTOmT* 


(1801. 


than  if  the  Qeorgn  WaabiDgton,  which  vetMl  wa«  aoon  ex* 
pocted,  had  come  in  with  the  tribiite. 

On  tho  Ist  of  August,  while  running  for  Malta,  the  Enter* 
priae  12,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Sterrett,  fell  in  with  and 
•poke  a  polacre<rigged  ship  of  14  gub:<  and  80  men,  belonging 
to  Tripoli,  that  waa  known  to  be  out  oa  a  cruiiie  against  the 
American  <*ommerce.  Running  close  alon^ide,  an  action  waa 
commcuvtjd  within  pistol-sKjt,  and  it  contuiued  with  little  in> 
termission  for  three  hours,  vhen  the  Turk  submitted.  During 
the  combat,  however,  the  Tripolitan  struck  three  several  times, 
twice  re-houting  his  colours,  and  opening  his  fire  again,  when 
he  thought  en  advantage  might  be  obtained  by  attacking  the 
Americans  unprepared.  Irritated  bv  this  treachery,  on  the 
last  occasion  the  Enterprise  resumed  her  lire,  with  an  intention 
to  sink  her  opponent,  but  ailer  some  further  ihough  fruitless 
resistance,  the  Turkish  captain  appeared  in  the  waist  of  hiM 
•hip,  and  threw  his  ensign  into  the  sea,  bending  his  body  and 
supplicating  for  quarter  by  signs,  when  the  fire  of  the  schooner 
was  stopped. 

The  name  of  the  captured  ship  was  the  Tripoli,  and  that  of 
her  rais,  or  commander,  Mahomet  Sous.  Altnough  the  Turks 
•howed  coura^  —  desperation  would  be  a  better  term  —  this 
first  trial  of  skill  with  their  trans-atkintic  enemies  was  far  firom 
creditable  to  them.  The  Enterprise  raked  her  enemy  repeat- 
edly, and  the  consequences  were  dreadfully  apparent  in  the 
result,  50  of  the  corsair's  peoole  having  been  killed  and 
wounded  in  the  battle.  The  ship  herself  was  a  wreck,  and 
her  mizxen-mast  was  shot  away.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
Enterprise  sustained  but  little  imury  even  aloft,  and  had  not  a 
man  hurt.    Neither  did  she  suffer  materially  in  her  hull. 

The  instructions  of  Iiieutenant  Sterrett  did  not  permit  him 
to  carry  the  Tripoli  in,  and  Lieutenant  David  Porter  took  po»« 
session,  and  proceeded  to  dismantle  her.  Her  armament  was 
thrown  overboard,  and  she  was  stripped  of  every  thing  but  one 
old  sail,  and  a  single  spar,  that  were  left  to  enaMe  her  to  reach 
port.  After  attending  to  the  wounded,  the  prize  was  aban* 
doDod,  and  it  w  understood  a  long  time  elapsed  before  she 
got  in.  When  ^f^v  unfortunate  rais  a|^ieared  in  Tripoli,  even 
hia  wounds  did  a-isK  avail  him.  He  was  placed  on  a  jackaaa, 
paraded  thnnti^h  the  streets,  and  received  the  bastinado.  The 
efiect  uf  th<3  punishment  appears  to  have  been  difierent  from 
what  w.v;  vAp^cted,  for  it  is  said  the  panic  amons  the  sailon 
became  ^  <  great,  in  consequence,  that  it  waa  founa  difficult  to 


[1801. 
wu  aoon  ex* 

ilta,  the  Enter- 
II  in  with  and 
men,  belonging 
iae  against  the 
),  an  action  was 
1  with  little  in> 
litted.  During 
6  several  times, 
re  again,  when 
y  attacking  the 
achery,  on  the 
ith  an  intention 
hough  fruitless 
lie  waist  of  hitt 
g  his  body  and 
of  the  schooner 

oli,  and  that  of 
Nigh  the  Turks 
er  term  —  this 
9s  was  far  firom 

enemy  repeat- 
pparent  in  the 
ten  killed  and 
I  a  wreck,  and 
tther  hand,  the 

and  had  not  • 
I  her  hull, 
lot  permit  him 
'orter  took  pot- 
armament  was 
y  thing  but  one 
M  her  to  reach 
rise  was  aban- 
sed  before  she 
D  Tripoli,  even 
I  on  a  jackass, 
istinado.  The 
\  difierent  from 
one  the  sailoia 
lund  difficult  to 


1801.1 


NAVAL    HIBTORT. 


153 


obtain  men  for  the  corsairs  that  were  then  fitting  for  sea. 
One  thing  is  certain,  that,  though  this  war  lasted  three  years, 
and  in  the  end  became  both  spirited  and  active,  very  few  Tri- 
politan  cruisers  ventured  from  port  during  its  continuance ;  or 
if  thoy  quitted  port,  they  were  oAulious  to  an  oxtrtinM'  about 
venturing  from  the  land. 

The  Fresidon'  appeared  off  Tripoli  on  the  24th  of  August, 
when  an  inefToctual  attempt  was  made  to  establish  a  truce. 
Remaining  eighteen  days  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town,  and  dis- 
covering no  movement  in  or  about  the  port,  Commodore  Dale 
ran  down  the  cooat  some  distance,  when  he  crossed  over  to 
Malta,  in  order  to  water  his  ship.  As  soon  as  this  necessary 
duty  was  performed,  the  President  returned  to  Tripoli,  and  on 
the  30th  of  August,  she  overhauled  a  Greek  ship  bound  in, 
with  a  cargo  of  merchandise  and  provisions.  On  board  this 
vessel  was  an  officer  and  twenty  Tripolitan  soldiers  besides 
twenty  other  subjects  of  the  regency.  All  these  pei's«)ns  were 
taken  on  board  the  iVigate,  and  an  attempt  was  made,  by 
means  of  this  lucky  capture,  to  establish  a  system  of  exchange. 
The  negotiations  were  carried  on  through  Mr.  Nissen,  the 
Danish  consul,  a  gentleman  whose  name,  by  means  of  his  be- 
nevolence, philanthropy,  and  probity,  has  become  indissolubiy 
connected  with  the  history  of  the  American  marine. 

It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  Bashaw  cared  very  little 
about  his  subjects,  as  he  declared  that  he  would  not  exchange 
one  American  for  ail  the  soldiers.  There  was  a  little  of  the 
art  of  the  negotiator  in  this,  however,  as  he  agreed  in  the  end 
to  give  three  Americans  for  all  the  soldiers,  the  officer  in- 
cluded, and  three  more  for  eight  of  the  merchants,  disclaiming 
the  renuuning  six  merchants  as  his  subjects.  Commodore  <--^' 
Dale  appears  to  have  become  disgusted  with  this  unworthy 
mode  of  bargaining,  for  he  sent  his  prisoners  on  board  the 
Greek  again,  and  oltowed  the  ship  to  go  into  Tripoli,  relin- 
quishing his  claim  on  the  merchants  altogether  as  non-com- 
batants, and  consenting  to  lake  the  three  Americans  for  the 
soldiers. 

Finding  it  necessary  to  go  down  to  Gibraltar,  the  commo- 
dore now  left  Tripoli,  and  proceeded  direct  to  the  former  place. 
He  was  soon  succeeded  by  the  Essex,  which  also  appeared  off 
the  different  Barbary  ports. 

In  the  mean  tine,  the  two  Tripolitan  cniisers  at  Gibraltar, 
on  its  beioe  asoertaiiied  that  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  get 
out  while  toey  were  so  closely  watched,  were  dismantled,  and 


wsw  iftiiiiniiiii't»Mijuiimwi 


Miiii 


154 


NATAL     HIBTORT. 


(1809. 


their  crew*  were  privately  icnt  acroH  to  Tetu«n  in  boat*,  to 
find  their  way  honoo  by  land ;  nn^n  onouf^h  being  lefl  to 
take  cure  of  the  ships,  and  to  navigato  thoni,  should  an  oppor- 
tunity occur  to  get  to  soa.  The  Bashaw  complained  loudly 
of  the  blockade,  as  on  innovation  on  the  received  mode  of 
warfare ;  and  the  governments  of  Algiers  and  Tunis,  which 
appeared  to  distrust  the  precedent,  maniftwted  a  disposition  to 
join  in  the  protest.  The  Voy  of  Algiers  even  went  so  far  as 
to  ask  passports  for  the  crews  of  tiio  two  vessels  at  (libraltar, 
with  a  view  to  aid  his  neighbour ;  but  the  request  was  denied. 

Tlie  return  of  Commodore  Dale's  squadron  was  ordered  to 
take  plaoe  on  the  1st  of  December,  at  the  latest ;  but  diacre* 
tionary  powers  appear  to  have  been  subsequently  given  to 
him,  09  no  lefl  the  Philadelphia  and  Essex  behind  him,  and 
proceeded  home  with  his  own  ship  and  the  Bnlernrise.  Th« 
practice  of  entering  men  for  only  a  twelvemonth  still  prevailed, 
and  it  was  often  imperative  on  vessels  to  quit  stations  at  the 
most  unfortunate  moments.  The  Philadelphia  was  left:  to 
watch  the  Tripolitans,  making  Syracuse  L'  Sicily  her  port  of 
resort ;  white  the  Essex  was  kept  at  the  straits,  to  blockade  the 
two  vessels  at  Gibraltar,  and  guard  the  passage  into  the  Atlao* 
tic.    Both  ships  gave  convoys  when  required. 

Thus  ended  the  first  year  of  the  war  with  Tripoli.  Al- 
though  little  had  been  e'T^.'^nted  towards  bringing  the  enemv  to 
terms,  much  was  done  in  raising  the  tone  and  discipline  of  the 
service.  At  Gibraltar,  Malta,  and  other  ports,  the  finest 
cruisers  of  Great  Britain  were  constantly  met ;  and  the  Ame« 
rican  ships  proving  to  be  entirely  their  equals,  in  constructioni 
sailing,  and  nwncBUTring,  a  strong  desire  was  soon  excited  to 
render  them,  in  all  other  respects,  as  good  as  those  that  were 
then  deemed  the  model-ships  of  the  world.  A  similar  oppor- 
tunity had  occurred  while  cruising  in  the  West-Indies ;  but 
then  a  lar^  proportion  of  the  vessels  employed  were  of  infe- 
rior qualities,  and  some  of  the  officers  were  unfit  to  hold  com- 
missions in  any  service.  All  the  purchased  ships  had  now 
been  sold,  and  the  reduction  law  had  cleared  the  lists  of  those 
who  would  be  likely  to  lewen  the  ambition,  or  alarm  the  pride 
of  an  aspiring  and  sensitive  marine.  Each  day  added  to  the 
knowledge,  tone,  esprit  de  corps,  and  seamanship  of  the 
younger  officers ;  and  as  these  opportunities  continued  to  in- 
crease throughout  the  whole  of  the  Mediterranean  service,  the 
navy  rapidly  went  on  improving,  until  the  commander  of  an 
American  ship  was  as  ready  to  mret  comparisons,  as  the  conw 
maoder  of  any  vessel  of  war  that  floated. 


mmmmmm 


(1808. 

in  boata,  to 
eing  left  to 
Id  an  oppor- 
Bincd  loudly 
e>d  niodo  of 
i'unia,  which 
liHpoailion  to 
ml  so  far  aa 
it  (Gibraltar, 
was  denied. 
m  ordered  to 
;  but  diacro* 
;ly  given  to 
nd  him,  and 
•i»ri!w.  The 
ill  prevailed, 
Btiona  at  the 
was  left  to 
her  port  of 
blockade  the 
to  the  Atlan- 

rripoli.  Al- 
he  enemy  to 
iipline  of  the 
,  the  fineat 
nd  the  Ame- 
wnstruction, 
m  excited  to 
oe  that  were 
milar  oppor- 
•Indies;  but 
rere  of  infe* 
to  hold  com- 
ipa  had  now 
ists  of  those 
rm  the  pride 
added  to  the 
ship  of  the 
linued  to  in- 
aervice,  the 
ander  of  an 
I  aa  the  com* 


IMS.] 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


106 


CHAPTER  XVn. 

EA«tT  in  the  year  1802,  Congrowi  enacted  laws  that  obvl. 
ated  some  constilutional  scrupica  of  the  executive,  and  which 
Ailly  authorised  the  capture  and  condemnation  of  any  Tripo> 
litan  vessels  that  might  be  found.  It  is  worthy  of  ntmark, 
that  this  law  itself  did  not  contain  a  formal  declaration  of  war, 
while  it  provided  for  all  the  contingencies  of  such  a  state  of 
things,  oven  to  empowering  the  pft>sident  to  issue  commissions 
to  privateers  and  letters  of  marque ;  and  it  nwiy  be  inferred 
from  this  fact,  that  it  was  supposed  the  act  of  the  enemy  was 
sufficient  to  render  the  country  technically  a  belligerent.  On« 
of  the  sections  of  this  law,  however,  was  of  great  service  to 
the  navy,  by  enabling  crews  to  be  shipped  for  two  years. 

As  the  President  and  Enterprise  had  returned  home,  and 
the  time  of  aeryioe  of  the  people  of  the  two  ships  that  wera 
left  in  the  Mediterranean  waa  nearly  up,  preparations  were 
now  made  to  send  out  a  relief  squadron.  For  this  service  tho 
following  ship  were  commissioned,  viz.  the  Chesapeake  88, 
Lieutenant  Chauncoy,  acting  captain ;  Constellation  88,  Cap. 
tain  Murray ;  New  York  86,  Captain  Jamea  Barron  |  John 
Adams  88,  Captain  Rodgers ;  Adama  88,  Captain  Campbell  { 
and  Enterprise  13,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Storratt.  Com. 
modore  Truxtun  waa  selected  to  command  this  squadron,  and 
he  had  proceeded  to  Norfolk  for  that  purpose,  when  a  question 
arising  abou  allowing  him  a  captain  in  the  flag.ship,  he  waa 
induced  to  resign.  Comnwdoro  Morris  waa  appointed  to  sue* 
oeed  Commodore  Truxtun,  and  shortly  after  he  hoisted  his 
broad  pennant  in  the  Chesapeake. 

The  vessels  fitting  for  the  Mediterranean  being  in  different 
states  nf  forwardness,  and  there  existing  a  necessity  for  the 
immediate  appearance  of  so^ne  of  them  in  that  aea,  they  did 
not  sail  in  a  squadron,  but  aa  each  was  ready.  The  Enterprise 
was  the  first  that  left  home,  sailing  in  February ;  and  she  was 
followed,  in  March,  by  the  Constellation,  llie  Chesapeake 
did  not  get  out  until  AprO,  and  the  Adams  followed  her  in  June. 
The  two  other  ships  were  detained  until  September.  There 
was,  however,  one  other  veaael  at  sea,  all  this  time,  to  which  it 
will  be  necessary  to  make  a  brief  allusion. 


MUHn 


ririta 


mimmit 


IM 


NAVAL    HltTORV. 


itlQI. 


Bhorllv  aflor  hl«  acccMUMi  to  office,  in  1801,  Mr.  Jefferaon 
•ppoiiit«<<i  Mr.  Ilubort  U.  Livingtton  ininiatcr  to  Fruico,  and  the 
Ikwloii  ^H,  Cnptotn  M'Nicll,  wiu  dircctod  to  carry  tho  new  on- 
yoy  to  hU  placo  o(  dtmtinatlun.  Thin  duty  performed,  tho 
•hip  had  bot'n  ordonHl  to  Juiii  th«  •«]uadrc)n  in  lh«  Moditurra- 
nean,  Tor  aorvir.*)  in  that  aca.  Thu  doparture  of  the  Itoaton 
was  m  timed  aa  to  bring  hur  on  the  atation  under  both  coin- 
manda,  that  of  ComnKMiora  Ur.!i>,  and  that  of  Commodora 
Morria.  Thia  eruiao  haa  bocomo  memcrablo  in  the  aervtce, 
on  account  ot  tho  «>cccntricitioa  of  tho  officer  in  conunand  of  the 
ahip.  AAor  encuuntoring  a  heavy  gale  of  wind  in  'ho  Kay  of 
Diacay,  in  which  hoahowtnt  jMrlhot  sramaniiSiip,  an><  theutmoat 
oooloeaa,  under  circunmiancea  partioiilMrly  trying,  Captain 
M'Niell  landed  hia  pasaengcra,  and  procxjoJcd  tu  tho  Mediter* 
railcwn.  Here  he  cniiaod  for  aoino  time,  avoiding  hia  aunior 
offioera,  whenever  he  could,  |>aa8ing  front  port  to  port,  appear* 
ing  off  Tripoli,  and  occaaionally  affimling  a  convoy.  Atur  a 
time,  tho  maton  retunvod  hoiiM),  and  waa  put  out  of  commia- 
sioo,  her  oomtnauder  quitting  the  aorvice  under  tho  reduction 
Uw.  The  Eoaox  and  rhiladuphia  alao  relumed  home,  aa  aoon 
as  relieved. 

We  have  now  reached  th<>  summer  of  1 1^02,  and  must  ooo* 
Ane  the  narrative  ot  event:  >  tlio  movemenui  of  tho  difliTont 
veaaola  that  com|M>«ed  the  aquadron  under  the  orders  of  Com* 
modoro  Morria.  In  some  respects,  this  waa  the  best  appointed 
force  that  had  ever  sailed  from  America.  The  ships  were  w«ll 
office^  and  manned,  and  the  crows  had  been  entered  for  two 
yeaiM,  or  double  the  usual  period.  Tho  powers  given  to  the 
oommanding  officer,  appear  to  havn  been  moro  ample  than 
common ;  and  so  strong  waa  the  etpcctation  of  the  government 
that  hia  force  waa  sufficient  to  bring  the  enemy  to  terms,  that 
Commodore  Morru  was  aasociated  with  Mr.  Cathcart,  the  late 
oon.iul  at  Tripoli,  in  a  ( '  nrimission  to  negotiate  a  pacoe.  He 
was  alao  empowered  to  obtain  gtut^boata,  in  order  to  protect 
the  American  trade  in  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar. 

As  thero  were  no  moans  of  bringing  the  Bashaw  of  Tripoli 
tolerms  but  blockade  and  bombardment,  two  inaierial  errors 
seem  to  have  bran  made  in  thf«  composition  of  the  force  em- 
ployed, which  it  is  necessary  to  noention.  There  was  no  iH- 
gate  in  this  squadron  that  carried  a  long  gun  heavier  than  an 
•ighteen-pou  rider,  nor  waa  there  any  mortar  vessel.  Heavy 
oanronados  had  coitw  into  use,  it  is  true,  and  most  ships  cam* 
ed  more  or  less  of  them ;  but  these  are  guns  unsuited  to  batter 


lltM. 


1M0.] 


NATAL    HilTOKT, 


15? 


ing  under  any  oircumiitancM,  mid  wens  partkulnrly  unAUnd 
for  an  auault  on  wurka  that  it  ia  diilinil'  lo  approac-h  very  Mwr, 
on  account  of  «<«(•  of  rocks,  Tlirro  wua  olao  a  •insular  de- 
ficiency in  amail  vcaaoU,  without  which  a  clo«w  UiN'kniki  of  n 
[Hi.t  hk«  Trip«ili,  waa  cxtrrnn'ly  difficult,  if  n<  <t  imfioamble.  It 
will  be  renwnubtjrid,  that  the  achooiH-r  Enlcrpriaa  woa  thw onlv 
vaaaol  Utd  in  iho  navv  by  tho  mluction  law,  that  waa  not  M- 

irato.buitt,  and  none  had  yet  bmn  launched  to  aupply  tho  de< 
oct.  Tho  govcituiient,  luiwcvor,  had  Iwonw  awaro  of  tho 
un-'ut  importanco  of  light  cruincni,  and  iievtiral  worn  laid  down 
in  tho  aumnjer  of  ihia  ymr,  under  autliority  grnntod  for  that 
purpoae. 

Aa  haa  bcf  n  loen,  the  Bnterpriae  12,  Lieutenant  Commaod* 
ant  aterrett,  wan  tho  ftrat  voiwol  of  th«i  now  M|uadron  that 
reached  tho  MfdiK'rfancan.  She  wan  soon  followpd  by  tho 
Constellation  38,  ('aptain  Murray,  whi<  h  tthip  arriv«»d  offTri- 

Kili  early  in  Muy,  whoro  sho  found  the  Hoaton  2H,  Captain 
•Nidi,  blockading  tho  port.  The  latter  ahip,  in  a  few  days, 
quitted  the  station,  and  never  re.appe*rod  on  it.  A  Hwedish 
cruiaer  was  also  off  tho  port,  assisting  to  blockade.* 

After  being  off  tho  port  sonxj  tinM»,  llw  (.'.instellation  waa 
lying  throe  or  four  leagues  from  the  town,  whin  the  Iwk-out 
aloil  reported  aovoral  amall  veaaels  to  the  westward,  stealing 
along  shore.  The  wind  waa  quite  light,  and  the  Swediah  fh* 
gate,  at  tho  monx  it,  was  a  long  distance  outaidff.  Sail  waa 
got  on  tho  Const* )  lation,  and  towards  mwn  the  stren^ra  were 
made  out  to  be  M<-vcnleen  Tripolitan  gun-boats,  which,  aa  it 
waa  afterwarda  ascertained,  had  gone  out  at  night,  with  the 
intention  of  convoying  into  port,  an  American  pnie  that  waa 
expected  flrom  Tunis,  but  which  had  failed  to  appear.  Fortu- 
nately the  wind  freahened  aa  the  Constellatbn  drew  in  with 
the  lond,  and  about  one  o'clock  ho()cs  were  entertained  of  cut. 
ting  off  all,  or  a  portion  of  tho  enemy.  Tho  latlor  were  divi- 
ded into  two  diviaiona,  however,  and  that  which  lod,  by  pull- 
ing  directly  to  windward,  eflbcted  its  Mcape.  The  diviaioa 
in  the  rear,  consisting  of  ten  boats,  was  less  fortunate,  the 
Conatellation  being  enabled  to  get  it,  for  a  abort  tin>e,  under 
her  fire. 

The  wind  blew  nearly  from  the  direction  of  the  town,  and 
the  Tripolitona  still  ondeavoured  to  croaa  the  bows  ol'  the  ship, 

•  Swsd«n  wu  at  WW  with  Tripoli,  at  this  tins,  also ;  bat 
made  in  the  ooofss  of  the  sammer. 
14 


mwmMn 


•mitf 


l&d 


NAVAL     HitTOBT. 


(1009. 


■■  ihfl  WM  itanding  in;  but  (!iiptjiin  Murray,  having  run  into 
Irn  (kthotiM,  u|icua(Tu(iim  thnt'iH'iny.tiriw  enough  tucut  ofl'all 
but  cwMi  btmt  of  thu  rour  iltviNion.  'I'hiM  boat,  notwithatandinu 
a  hot  diachorue  of  grape,  iiui'ct<t'(i<>d  in  ui'lling  to  wiridwarti, 
and  waa  alMUMooDd  to  attend  to  ih«  rt-nminilttr.  'I'hn  i<ncfniy 
now  (i|ion«NJ  a  Are  in  return,  l)ut  th«i  (.'unatollation  havinK,  by 
Ihia  ttinc,  got  the  iwwrmt  boata  fkirly  undiir  her  bruaiUidts  wmhi 
rofn|M)llcd  thfl  wholo  nine  to  bear  up,  and  to  pull  toward*  ttiu 
ahorc.  Hum  thoy  got  into  nooka  bi>hind  tho  r(N!ka,  or  in  the 
Uiat  placva  of  T^'l'ufp)  thnt  oiritn^d,  whiln  n  largn  iMxly  ofcovtilry 
appeared  on  tho  aand-hilla  obovo  thvin,  to  prcvont  a  landing, 
livoming  it  imprudtmt  to  M-nd  in  thn  iMMtta  of  a  ainglo  frigate 
Boainat  ao  forniidablo  a  forcr,  ()a|itain  Murray  wore  and  atood 
on*  ahoro,  aoon  after  apoakin((  the  Hwudo,  who  hud  not  bcon 
able  to  cUnm)  in  timo  to  I'ngnui'. 

Thia  liilln  affair  waa  tliu  lirat  that  occurred  off  the  )iort  of 
Tripoli,  in  thia  war ;  and  it  had  the  nifcct  of  rendering  the  ene- 
my  very  cautioua  in  hia  movemcnta.  The  gun>boata  worn  a 
rnrnd  deal  cut  up,  though  their  looa  waa  never  aacertoined. 
The  cavalry,  alan,  Ruffcrcd  materially,  and  it  waa  aaid  that  an 
officer  of  high  rank,  ."nrly  allic^d  to  tho  Boy,  waa  kilUnl.  The 
Cunatellatioii  auatainmi  aoine  trifling  diunngo  aloft,  imt  the  gun< 
boota  wum  too  hard  prposcd  to  rcndor  thfir  fim  very  wrioua. 
The  bttttoriea  opened  u|)on  the  ahip,  iilao,  on  thia  occaaion,  but 
•II  ttietr  ahbl  fell  short. 

Aftuf  waiting  in  vain  for  the  rr-appoaranoe  of  the  Boaton, 
Captain  Murray  waa  corii|)cl!cd  to  quit  the  station  for  want  of 
water,  wh«'n  Tri|)oli  woa  again  l«ift  without  any  force  before  it. 

The  Cheaapoake  38,  Acting  Captain  (/hauncoy,  wearing  the 
bread  pennant  of  Commodore  Morria,  reached  Gibraltar  May 
Sftth,  180!2,  whore  ahe  found  the  Baaex  92,  Captain  Rain* 
bridge,  atill  blockading  th«!  Tripolitan  cruiaorti.  The  latt(>r  vea< 
ael  was  aent  homo,  and  the  Cheaapeako,  which  hud  need  of 
repairs,  having  aprung  her  mainmast,  continued  in  the  straits 
for  the  purpose  of  refitting,  and  of  watching  the  onemv.  Com- 
modore Morris  also  deemed  it  prudent  to  observe  the  move- 
ments of  the  government  of  Moroccx),  which  had  manifested  a 
hostile  diafKwition.  The  arrival  of  the  Adama  28,  Captain 
Campbell,  lato  in  July,  finally  placed  the  flag-ship  at  liberty, 
and  she  sailed  with  a  convoy  to  various  ports  on  the  north 
shore,  having  the  Enterprise  in  company.  This  long  delay 
below,  of  itself,  alnnoet  defeated  the  possibility  of  acting  effl- 


MM 


-fi   l"-^ 


tig  run  into 
1  cut  oft  all 
ithatanilinff 

wiiidwartl, 
l'h»'  rnpiiiy 
hiiving,  by 
tiliii(i<i,  soun 
DWArda  the 
I,  or  in  the 

of  cnvtilry 
1  a  landing, 
tiglo  frigntfl 
I)  ami  uUtiA 
ul  not  licoD 

tho  yotX  of 
ing  tho  one< 
ntii  wore  • 
lacertainod. 
MiicI  that  an 
ill.-d.  Th«' 
)ut  tho  gun- 
}ry  wTioua. 
ccaaion,  but 

the  Boston, 
for  want  of 
CO.  before  it. 
wearing  the 
iraltar  May 
plain  Rain- 
e  latter  vet- 
lid  need  of 
a  the  atraita 
mv.  Com- 
tiie  move- 
rianifcated  a 
28,  Captain 
)  at  liberty, 
1  the  north 
long  delav 
acting  em- 


IIM) 


NAVAL    HiBTOR  V 


ISO 

AiftlMf 


Otently  againit  the  town  of  Tripoli  that  aumnwr.  atow.  «t«tt 
limji  b«.ng  indu,mn«ibk.  t.,  v,lWx  i»m,  d.(Ji.r.,,r  v«Si«I«o 
nMk«  ifK,  ,K«.««ry  ,.r«,mr.t,o„,,  ,,  would  hnm  ?h«  ,hi,m  be- 
f.m  that  plac.,  u..  |«..,  ,„  „.«  ^.««,„.     The  fail,  howov.r,^ 

b1  1,.  «"".7"'  "'••?'  ""'"'  *"'"'  "'"-«  "»>«  dirtwted  .fM.  p«,. 
p.ra.,....at  h«.m.,  tlmn  with  th.,  .ommanding  ofllcr.  a.  the 
delay  at  (l.braliar  wuild  aeetn  to  have  U«„  c«ll«|  f„  by  ciT 
CUjnatanc^a.     The  (V«.pe.|.a.  foll..w„m  ,hn  „<,r.h  [LJ,  «  .d 

whi.1  .hi,,  ahortly  aft«r  returned  home,  in  conm,nuH.ce  of  i 
dkoretionary  ,H.wer  that  h«,l  been  lell  with  thi.  (Lu„.kIo«,. 

to  lendeavoua  at  Malta,  whither  tho  (;.,m,,KKl.,r»,  «4eHed 

uary,  IH03,  wen,  am-nihUnJ  tlw  Cheaa,»ak«  88.  Actmn  Cap. 
Sm  t"Tli  .'^7  7«''''  »«.  ^'•I>«'""  J.  Ilarron,  Joto 
Commandant  riterrett.     (5f  ,he  renuiiniog  v..h«,|,  that  h«,l  been 

5?  cltlin'^M'*"'  "[  ^«'""-''^'«  M,rrri«.  the  ConiSa^S 
8»,  Captain  Murray,  had  gone  into  a  S^nwh  port  to  repair 
Jjne  damage.  n»eo,ved  in  a  gale  of  wind,  anS^ahe  ahortly 
•ner  Haded  «or  homei  the  Fk^ton  88,  Captain  M'Niell.  had 
not  oined  and  the  Adam.  28,  Captain  Campbell,  wa.  cru  .ing 

named  left  Malta  with  an  intention  to  go  off  Tripoli,  bit  a  a*, 
vera  gale  coming  on,  which  laated  eleven  dayajthe  Commo- 

oii  .SJI!."**'**'^*';^"^''  '«'  '«"  Tunl.,  touchcHl  at  Algiera, 
Md  anchored  again  at  O.braltar  on  the  23d  of  the  month? 
had  hLr.!^  "««gned  for  carrying  the  .hip.  below,  when  it 

wl.  ^  ^  r*"".  **'«"  *«  "PP""  «"■  '»»  wx^ny'-  port, 
waa  the  want  of  provuiona,  aa  well  aa  to  make  the  transfer,  and 

mZl^  '^»*'»»  on  ahifting  the  pennant  of  the  com- 
n«nding  officer,  from  the  Che«ipe«ko  to  the  Now  York,  tho 
former  jjhip  having  been  ordered  home  by  the  navy  depart- 

tKd.1  Q?"I^"^  T"*"?'"  "^'^ '°  •'*  New  Vork  ae. 

kc^^J'  rt  "'"'"*  ^•^""  **•  •""*  '»»  Enterpri*,  19. 
t^fV^T  Chauncey  accompanied  the  Commodore  to  the 
S?clL^*^jL*i^  Capealn  Barron  wa.  tranaferred  to 
tae  (.haaapedw.    The  Adwna  w«  deapwched  with  a  conToy, 


160 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[im. 


with  orders  to  go  off  Tripoli,  as  soon  as  the  first  duty  was  per- 

The  «hips  appear  to  have  been  detained  some  time  at  Malta 
by  the  repairs  that  were  rendered  necessary  in  consequence 
of  an  accident  thot  had  occurred  to  the  New  York.  On  the 
3d  of  May,  however,  the  John  Adams  was  sent  off  Tripoli, 
alone,  with  orders  to  blockade  that  port.  Shortly  after  this 
ship  reached  her  station,  slio  made  a  sail  in  the  offing,  which 
she  iptercepted.  This  vesnel  proved  to  be  the  Moshouda,  one 
of  the  cruisers  that  had  been  so  long  blockaded  at  Oibraltar, 
and  which  wos  now  endeavouring  to  get  home  under  an  as. 
sumed  character.  She  had  been  sold  by  the  Bashaw  to  the 
Emperor  of  Morocco,  who  had  sent  her  to  Tunis,  where  she 
had  taken  in  supplies,  and  was  now  standing  boldly  for  the 
harboui-  of  Tripoli.  The  reality  of  the  transfer  was  doubted, 
and  as  she  was  attempting  to  evade  a  legal  blockade,  the  Me* 

shouda  was  detained.  .       ».     •    i.^„«  ;« 

About  the  close  of  the  month.  Commodore  Morris  hove  m 
sight,  in  the  New  York,  with  the  Adams  &nd  Enterprise  in 
company.    As  the  flag-ship  neared  the  coast,  several  smaU 
vessels,  convoyed  by  a  number  of  gun-boats,  were  discovei^ 
close  in  with  the  land,  making  the  best  of  their  way  towards 
*he  port.    Chase  was  immediately  given,  and  finding  them- 
.fflvM  cut  off  from  the  harbour,  the  merchant  vessels,  eleven 
in  all,  took  refuge  in  old  Tripoli,  while  the  g»n-b«»<».  by 
me&ns  of  their  sweeps,  were  enabled  to  pull  under  the  batte- 
ries  of  the  town  itself.  No  sooner  did  the  vessels,  mnall  latine- 
riffffed  coasters  loaded  with  wheat,  get  into  Old  Tnpoit,  than 
preparations  were  made  to  defend  them.    A  large  otone  build- 
inffVtocd  on  a  bank  some  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  from  the  shore, 
and  it  was  occupied  by  a  considerable  body  of  soldiers.    In 
the  course  of  the  night,  breastworks  were  erected  on  each 
side  of  this  building,  by  means  of  the  sacks  of  wheat  which 
composed  the  cargoes  of  the  feluccas.  The  latter  were  hauled 
uponthe  beach,  high  and  dry,  i^^nediately  beneath  the  build- 
ing,  and  a  large  force  was  brought  from  Tripoli,  to  man  the 

breast-works.  »  .     -       ..        i    ._^_«j 

Mr.  Porter,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  flag-ship,  volunteered 
to  BO  in  that  night,  with  the  boats  of  the  squadron,  and  destroy 
the  enemy's  craft;  but,  unwilling  to  expose  his  people  under 
so  much  uncertainty,  the  commodore  decided  to  wait  for  day- 
light, in  order  that  the  ships  might  co-operate,  and  in  the  hope 
of  intimidating  the  Tripolitans  by  a  show  of  all  his  loroe. 


ut'y  was  per- 

(ne  at  Malta 
consequence 
rk.  On  the 
off  Tripoli, 
;ly  ailer  this 
iffing,  which 
j'sltnuda,  one 
It  Gibraltar, 
inder  an  as- 
ishaw  to  the 
B,  where  she 
oldly  for  the 
was  doubted, 
Lade,  the  Me< 

>rri8  hove  ia 
Bnterprise  in 
ieveral  small 
re  discoveifed 
way  towarda 
Hading  them* 
esaeb,  eleven 
nin-boats,  by 
ler  the  batte« 

I,  amall  latine* 
IVipoii,  than 

>e  Btone  build* 
rom  the  shore, 
'  soldiers.  In 
cted  on  each 
'  wheat  which 
!r  were  hauled 
iath  the  build* 

II,  to  man  the 

ip,  volunteered 
in,  and  destroy 
I  people  under 

wait  for  day- 
md  in  the  hope 

edl  his  force. 


Hi»MiiMiAM«>U 


•4 


i 


l# 


180S.] 


NAVAL     HIBIORY 


161 


Mr.  Porter,  however,  went  in  alone  and  reconnoitred  in  tho 
dark,  receiving  a  heavy  fire  from  tao  musketry  of  the  troops 
when  discovorud. 

Next  morning,  the  offer  of  Mr.  Porter  was  accnpttd,  and 
sustained  by  Lieutenant  James  Lawrence  of  the  Enterprise, 
and  a  strong  party  of  officers  and  men  from  the  other  ships, 
he  went  boldly  in,  in  open  day.  As  the  boats  pulled  up  within 
reach  of  musketry,  the  enemy  opened  a  h^avy  fire,  which 
there  was  very  little  opportunity  of  returning,  Nciwithstand- 
ing  the  great  siperiority  of  «he  Turks  in  numbers,  tho  party 
landed,  set  fire  to  tho  feluccas,  and  regaining  their  boats  open- 
ed to  the  right  and  left,  to  allov/  the  shot  of  the  ships  to  com- 
plete  the  work.  Tho  enemy  now  appeared  desperately  bunt 
on  preserving  their  vessels,  and,  reaaroless  of  the  fire  of  the 
ships,  they  rushed  on  board  the  feluccas,  succeeded  in  extin- 
guishing tho  flames,  and,  in  the  end,  prdmrved  them. 

This  attack  was  made  in  tliu  most  kallant  manner,  and  re- 
flected high  credit  on  all  engaged.  Tl»e  parties  were  so  near 
each  other,  that  the  Turks  actually  threw  stones  at  the  Ame- 
ricans, and  their  fire  was  sharp,  heavy,  and  close.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy  could  never  be  ascertained,  but  a  good  many 
were  seen  to  fall.  Of  the  Americans,  12  or  16  were  killed 
and  wounded ;  and  among  the  latter,  was  Mr.  Porter,  who  re- 
ceived a  slight  wound  in  the  right,  and  a  muskei  all  through 
the  left  thigh,  while  advancing  to  tho  attack,  though  he  con- 
tinued to  command  io  tho  last.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  particu- 
larly  distinguished,  as  was  Mr.  John  Duwnes,  one  of  the  mid* 
shipmen  of  the  New  York. 

Commodore  Morris  determined  to  follow  up  this  attack  on 
the  wheat  vessels,  by  making  another  on  the  gun-boats  of  the 

enemy.  .        t.      j, 

These  gun-boatu  were  Atationed  well  out,  near  the  rocks  and 
the  mole,  in  a  manner  to  admit  of  their  givine  and  receiving 
a  fue^  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  aSth  of  May,  the  prenor- 
ations  having  been  previously  made,  a  signal  was  shown  ftom 
the  New  York,  for  the  John  Adorns  to  bear  down  upon  the 
enemy  and  ^wmmenoe  an  attack.  Captain  Rodgers  obeyed  the 
order  with  jinHnptitude,  taking  "^  position  within  reach  of  gra^ ; 
but  owing  to  the  Ughtnees  of  the  wind,  the  two  other  ships 
wew  unable  to  aecond  him,  as  woa  intended.  lu  pnnsequeDoe 
of  these  unforeseen  cireumstiirces,  the  attack  provea  a  ^kue, 
in  one  sense,  though  the  botts  soon  withdraw  bdiind  the  rodu, 
14«  14 


162 


NAVAL   HIBTORT. 


[1803. 


and  night  brought  the  aflair  to  an  end.    It  ia  believed  that 
neither  party  suffered  much  on  this  occasion. 

The  next  day  Commodoro  Morris  made  an  attempt  to  n«« 
gotiate  a  peace,  through  the  agency  of  M.  Nisscn,  the  Danish 
consul,  a  geutieman  who,  on  all  occasions,  appears  to  have 
been  the  friend  of  the  unfortunate,  and  active  m  doing  good. 
To  this  proposal  the  Bey  listened,  and  one  of  his  ministers  wa« 
empowered  to  meet  the  American  commander  on  the  subject. 
Having  received  proper  pledges  for  his  safe  return.  Commo- 
dore Morris  landed  in  person,  and  each  jat>  ptoiented  its 
outlines  of  a  treaty.  The  result  was  an  abr  jpt  endiag  of  the 
negotiation. 

This  occurred  on  the  8th  of  June:  Piid  on  the  lOth,  the 
New  York  and  Enterprise  left  the  station  for  Malta.  At  the 
latter  place,  Commodore  Morns  received  intelligence  concern- 
ing the  movements  of  the  Aigerine  and  Tunisian  corsairs,  tY'xt 
induced  him  to  despotch  the  Entejpnse,  with  ordera  to  Captain 
Rodgers  to  raise  the  blockade  of  Tripoli,  and  to  join  him,  as 
soon  as  circumstances  would  permit,  at  Malta. 

After  the  departure  of  the  flag-ship,  the  John  Adams  88, 
Captain  Rodgers,  and  the  Adams  28,  Captain  Campbell,  com- 
posed  the  force  left  before  the  enemy's  port.  The  speedy  re- 
turn  of  the  Enterprise  12.  which  was  then  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Commandant  Hull,  who  had  succeeded  Lieutenant 
Commandant  Sterrett,  added  that  light  vessel  to  the  squadron. 
Some  movements  in  the  harbour,  on  the  evening  of  the  2lBt 
of  June,  induced  Captain  Rodgers,  the  senior  officer  present, 
to  suspect  that  it  was  intended  to  get  a  cruiser  to  sea  that  night, 
or  to  cover  the  return  of  one  to  port.  With  a  view  to  defeat 
either  of  these  plans,  the  Adams  was  sent  to  the  westward,  the 
Enterprise  to  the  eastward,  while  the  John  Adams  remained  in 
the  offing. 

On  the  following  morning, about  7  o'clock,  the  Enterprise  was 
seen  to  the  southward  and  eastward  with  o  signal  for  on  enemy 
flying.  At  that  moment  the  John  Adams  wos  a  few  leagues 
out  at  sea,  and  it  was  8  o'clock  before  the  two  vessels  could 
speak  each  othar.  Captain  Rodgers  now  found  that  a  large 
ship  belonging  to  the  Bashaw,  had  run  into  a  deep  narrow  bay, 
about  seven  leagues  to  the  eastward  of  Tripoli,  where  she  had 
taken  a  very  favourable  position  for  defence,  and  anchored 
with  springs  on  her  cable.  At  the  same  time  it  was  asoertdsed 
that  nine  gun-boats  were  sweenping  along  th<9  ^hore,  to  aid  ta 
defeniling  her,  while,  as  usual,  a  largo  body  of  cavalfj'  wm 


Ifi <Miiiiliin-«*M 


[1803. 

lelieved  that 

empt  to  n«> 
,  tho  Danish 
lars  to  have 
doing  good, 
ninistors  was 
tho  subject, 
irn,  Commo- 
pioiented  its 
ndiug  of  the 

ho  inth,  the 
ilta.  At  tho 
ncc  concern- 
corsairs,  th  It 
rs  to  Captain 
join  him,  as 

1  Adams  26, 
jnpbell,  com- 
le  speedy  re- 
mmanded  by 
d  Lieutenant 
the  squadron. 
;  of  tho  2lBt 
Boer  present, 
lea  that  night, 
iew  to  defeat 
wrestward,  tho 
s  remained  in 

Intorprise  was 
for  an  enemy 
I  few  leagues 
vessels  could 
that  a  large 
[I  narrow  bay, 
/here  she  had 
md  anchored 
18  asoerttused 
ore,  to  aid  ta 
f  cavalr}'  wm 


1803.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


163 


hovering  about  tho  coast  to  resist  ony  attack  by  means  of  boats. 
Tho  ship  was  known  to  be  tho  largest  of  the  Boy's  remaining 
corsairs,  mounting  22  giinH ;  and  she  was  very  Aill  of  men. 

Captain  Rodgers  owed  tho  opportunity  that  now  ofTored  to 
attack  his  enemy,  to  tho  steadiness  and  gallantry  of  Lieutenant 
Commandant  Hull,  who,  on  making  his  adversary  at  daylight, 
had  cut  him  off  from  the  town,  with  a  spirit  that  did  infmito 
credit  to  that  oflker.  The  Tripolitan  was  treble  the  force  of 
tho  Enterprise,  and  had  ho  chosen  to  engage  the  schooner,  Mr. ' 
Hull  would,  probably,  have  been  obliged  to  sacrifice  his  little' 
vessel,  in  oraor  to  prevent  his  enemy  from  getting  into  port.      ' 

Tho  dispositions  of  Captain  Rodgers  were  soon  made.  Ho 
stood  in,  with  the  Enterprise  in  company,  until  the  John  Ad- 
ams was  within  point-blank  shot  of  the  tncmy,  when  she  open- 
ed her  fire.  A  smart  cannonade  was  maintained  on  both  sides, 
for  forty-five  minutes,  when  the  people  of  the  corsair  aban- 
doned their  guns,  with  so  much  precipitation,  that  great  num- 
bers leaped  overboard,  and  swam  to  the  shore.  The  John  Ad- 
ams was  now  in  quart'sr-less-five,  by  tho  lead,  and  she  wore 
w^th  her  head  oflf  shore.  At  the  same  time,  the  Enterprise 
was  ordered  to  occupy  the  attention  of  the  enemy  on  the  beach, 
while  boats  could  be  got  out  to  take  possession  of  the  aban- 
doned ship.  But  a  boat  returning  to  the  corsair,  the  John  Ad- 
ams  ticked  and  renewed  her  fire.  In  a  few  minutes  the  co- 
lours of  «hi&  corsair  wore  hauied  down,  and  all  her  guns  were 
dischargs:*!  ■  il«8  which  were  pointed  towards  the  Americans, 
and  those  which  ^ace  pointed  towards  the  land.  At  the  next 
moment  she  blew  up. 

The  explosion  was  very  heavy,  and  it  tore  the  hull  of  the 
Tripolitan  entirely  to  pieces.  The  two  after-masts  were  forced 
into  the  air  to  twice  their  usual  height,  with  all  the  yards,  rig- 
ging, and  hamper  attached.  The  cause  of  this  explosion  is 
unknown,  though  it  might  have  been  thought  intentional,  were 
it  not  for  the  fact  that  the  people  of  the  b(Mt  that  had  returned 
to  her,  were  blown  up  in  the  ship,  none  having  left  her  after 
their  arrival.  As  the  shot  of  the  John  Adams  was  seen  to 
hull  the  enemy  repeatedly,  the  corsair  is  also  supposed  to  have 
sustained  a  severe  loss  before  her  people  first  abandoned  her.  | 

The  John  Adams  and  Enterprise  attempted  to  cut  off  the ' 
division  of  gun-boats,  but  found  the  water  shoal  too  far  to  sea- 
ward of  them  to  render  the  fire  of  the-r  guns  effective.   Know- 
ing the  whole  coast  intimately,  the  latter  were  enabled  to  es- 
cape. 


^ 


*• 


164 


NATAL    HIBTOKT. 


(inn 


The  shipa  before  Tripoli,  in  obedience  to  the  orderi  of  C/om- 
modoTO  Morria,  now  sailed  for  Malta  to  join  thi«  officer,  when 
the  whole  gquadron  proc^Mided  to  different  porta  in  Italy,  to- 
aether.  From  Leghorn,  tlw  John  Adaiiii  was  sent  down  to 
the  straita  with  a  convoy ;  the  Adams  to  Tunis  and  Gibraltar, 
and  the  Enterprise  back  to  Malta,  in  quest  of  despatches. 
Soon  ader,  the  New  York  herself  went  below,  touchmg  at  Mai. 
oga,  where  Commodore  Morris  found  letters  of  recall.  I  he 
command  was  lefi  temporarily  with  Captain  Rodgers,  who 
hoisted  a  broad  pennant  in  the  Now  York,  while  Commodore 
Morris  took  charge  of  the  Adams,  to  proceed  to  A,mcrica. 
Captain  Campbell,  late  of  the  Adams,  was  transferred  to  the 
John  Adams. 

Commodore  Morris  reached  home  on  the  21st  of  November, 
1808;  and  the  government,  which  professed  great  dissatisfac- 
tion at  the  manner  in  which  he  had  employed  the  force  en- 
trusted  to  his  discretion,  demanded  the  usual  explanaUons. 
These  explanations  not  provita  satisfactory,  a  Court  of  Inqui- 
ry was  convened,  by  order  of  the  department,  dated  March 
10,  1804,  and  the  result  was  an  opinion  that  this  officer  had 
not  exorcised  due  diligence  and  activity  in  annoying  the  ene- 
my, on  various  occasions,  between  the  8th  of  January,  1808, 
and  the  period  of  the  expiration  of  his  command.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  finding  of  the  Court  of  Inquiry,  the  president 
dismissed  Commodore  Morris  from  the  navy.  This  step  has 
conerally  been  considered  high-handed  and  unjust. 

The  death  of  Commodore  Barry,  the  resignations  ol  Com- 
modore Dale  and  Commodore  Truxtun,  with  the  diwmssals  of 
Commodore  Morris  and  Captain  M'Niell,  reduced  the  list  of 
captains  to  nine,  the  number  named  in  the  reduction  law ;  for 
that  act  does  not  appear  to  have  been  rigidly  regarded  from 
the  moment  of  ita  passage.  After  the  death  of  Commodore 
Barry,  Commodore  8.  Nicholson  became  the  senior  officer  of 
the  service,  making  the  second  member  of  the  same  family 
who  had  filled  that  honouraUe  atntion. 


(I80S. 

tert  of  Com- 
fliicor,  when 
n  Italy,  to- 
int  down  to 
id  Gibraltar, 

dcapetches. 
hing  at  Mai- 
recall.  The 
odgora,  who 

Commodore 
to  Amorica. 
ferred  to  the 

)f  November, 
it  diBsatisfac- 
ho  force  cn> 
oxplanationi. 
3urt  of  Inqui- 
dated  March 
a  officer  had 
ying  the  ene- 
,nuary,  1808, 
1.  In  coDse- 
the  president 
fhis  step  has 
It. 

iona  of  Com- 
dLnnisaalfl  of 
ed  the  list  of 
;tion  law ;  for 
regarded  from 
f  Commodore 
aior  officer  of 
3  same  family 


iMl]  natal   history* 


165 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Th»  gotemment  soon  becwrie  awara  of  the  neoemty  of 
possessing  some  light  cruisers,  which,  to  a  marine,  are  what 
the  eyes  and  nwrves  are  to  man.  Without  vessels  of  this 
character,  a  comiimncler  could  never  conduct  a  vigorous  block- 
ade,  like  that  requirwl  before  Tripoli,  in  particular ;  and  a  law 
passed  February,  1803,  sulhorising  the  construction  of  two 
brigs  and  two  schooners.  In  th«  coune  of  the  spring  of  that 
year  thews  vessels  were  built,  and  the  navy  received  an  addi- 
tion to  iU  list,  of  the  Argus  16,  Siren  16,  Nautilu*  19,  and 
Vixen  12.  The  two  former  won?  beautiful  ami  very  efficient 
brigs,  mounting  16  twenty-four  p<iund  c/irronad«,  and  2  long 
twelves;  and  the  two  latter  were  schooners  carrying  13 
eighteen-pound  oarronsutos,  and  2  li^ht  long  guns,  each. 
TVy  were  all  finely  modelled  and  aervjoeable  vessels  of  their 
sixo,  aiwl  are  now  intimately  associated  with  the  early  trmditionr 
ol  the  navy.  There  was  a  singular  cx)nfomnity  in  their  fates, 
also,  the  whole  four,  in  the  end,  falling  into  the  hands  of  their 

When  Commodora  Morris  was  rwsslM,  the  necessity  of 
•mding  «ut  a  new  squadron  was  foreseen,  the  time  ol  the 
crows  belonging  to  the  ships  left  under  the  orders  of  Commo- 
«k)rrt  Rodgers  being  so  nearly  expired.  Indeed  the  latter 
officer,  when  he  hoisted  his  broadpsnnant,  was  notified  that  a 
Buccewor  must  soon  arrive.  Tlie  new  squadron  was  so 
differeutly  organised  from  the  two  which  had  preosded  il,  as 
to  leave  Httle  doubt  that  the  administration  had  discavered  the 
error  which  had  been  made  in  sending  so  many  light  fr»««te« 
on  this  service ;  vesseb  that  were  nearly  useless  m  a  bombard- 
ment,  while  they  could  not  command  the  shorer,,  and  that  had 
no  other  quuHty  particularly  suited  to  the  ^■<id\n  in  which 
they  were  engaged,  than  a  fitness  to  convoy.  Even  for  the 
latter  emptoymnot,  the  same  force  distributed  in  twice  the 
number  of  vesst^s,  wouW  have  been  much  more  efficient  and 

Tl  A  ships  BOW  selected  to  carry  on  the  war  against  Tripoli, 
wew  of  an  entirely  dMferent  description.  They  consisted  of 
the  Coostitution  44,  Philadelphia  86,  Argus  18,  Siren  16, 


III!  iimniirailiiwiiiiiiir'-ri 


IM 


NATAL    MllTOBf. 


Ill 


NautiiiM  19,  Vixen  18,  and  Enmrpruw  13.  Ihe  latter  waa 
•IrMdy  on  iJio  ttation,  an.l  it  wo-  inlrn.M  to  kfwp  hur  thflW, 
by  •ending  out  men  to  lupoly  the  (.UcmoI  lh<m  who  d«cl.n«d 
to  enter  nr^w.  As  uiuat,  the«.  v«moU  wiled  a*  ihcy  wen? 
ready :  th.>  Nautilua  19,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Homcra, 
beina  Vh<  «rit  that  ijot  to  leo.  Thia  .chDoner  reached  Oibral. 
Ur  im  th.  'm\i  of  July,  1803.  Hh«  waa  .oon  folbwud  by  the 
PhiladelpbM*  8H,  Captain  llainbridge,  which  arnvwl  at  tb« 
■ame  place,  August  a4lh.  Tbo  Constitution  44,  b-armg  the 
broad  pennant  of  Commodore  Freble,  who  had  been  cbo^n  to 
command  'he  squadron,  arrired  8«ptember  I9th;  the  Vu»n 
la,  IJcuUinant  Commandant  Smith,  Soptemlwr  litnj  tne 
Biren  19,  Lieulenunt  CommundBnt  St^wnrt,  October  Irt;  and 
the  Argus  1«,  lieHfccanl  Commundanl  Ij.^catur,  November  1st. 
When  the  la»i  foil  in  with  the  Enterprise,  Mr.  Uooalur  took 
command  of  that  schooner,  giving  up  the  brig,  by  arrange- 
ment,  to  Mr.  Hull,  who  was  hn  senior  officer. 

The  Philadelphia  Iwn'ly  touched  at  (Jibraltar.but  hearing  that 
two  Tripolitnns  wor«  cruising  off  Cape  de  Oatt,  Captain  Bain- 
bndge  proceeded,  without  delay,  in  quest  of  them.  On  the 
■i^  of  "J.«i  aeth  of  August,  blowing  fresh,  two  sails  wore  made 
Kwn  llw  Pl.iladolphin,  under  Capo  de  Gatt  j  the  largert  of  which, 
a  ship,  was  nirrying  iwithing  but  a  fore-oounw.  On  running 
alongside  this  vessel,  and  hailing,  w  ih  a  good  deal  of  d^culty, 
Captain  Bainbridge  learned  that  iIkj  stranger  was  a  oathaxy 
eraiser.  Further  e«imination  showed  that  this  vessel  be- 
longed to  the  EmpcPir  of  Morocco,  and  that  she  was  the 
Mcshlwha  99,  commandtid  by  Ibimhim  Lubarei,  and  had  a 
crew  of  one  hundred  n    :  twenty  men.  ^^.,   ,  ,  .. 

The  Moors  wews  made  to  believe  that  tho  Philadelphia  waa 
•n  English  frigate,  ond  they  admitted  that  the  brig  in  company 
was  Zx  American.  The  suspicions  of  Captain  Bambndge 
were  nc  •  awakened,  for  he  could  not  well  account  for  the  bng  a 
being  wider  so  little  sail,  and  he  sent  his  first  lieutenant  on 
board  the  Moor,  to  ascertain  if  there  were  anv  prisoners  in  hta 
■hip.  When  the  busi  reached  the  Mtojhboha,  the  Moora  re- 
(Itaed  to  let  tho  officer  come  over  the  side.  Captain  Bainbnd^ 
now  directed  an  armed  force  to  go  into  the  bort,  when  the  offi- 
oer  succeeded  in  executing  hia  orders.  ,  v   v  •    • 

Below  deck,  wore  found  the  master  and  crew  of  the  bng  in 
company,  which  was  ascertained  to  be  tho  Celia  of  Boaton,  a 
priMto  the  Meahboha.  The  brig  had  been  captured  near  Mo- 
lagp,  nine  days  before ;  and  there  was  no  doubt  that  the  Moor* 


'>=«*^- 


latter  wm 

hnr  tharo, 

lo  (ittclintMl 

It  Homen, 
led  Uibnil* 
w«d  by  the 
v«m1  «t  the 
M-aring  tli« 
1  cbuMta  to 
the  Vixeti 
14th  {  the 
ir  Isl;  and 
vcniimr  Itt. 
.•oalur  took 
)y  arrange- 

hmiringthat 

tptain  Bain- 

n.    On  the 

worn  mode 

!st  of  which, 

Dn  running 

if  difficulty, 

a  Etarbary 

veaael  b«- 

he  waa  the 

and  had  a 

dolphia  was 
in  (x.mpany 
Beinbridge 
or  the  brig'a 
ieulenant  on 
■onera  in  hia 
)n  Moors  re- 
(1  Bainbridge 
rhenlhe  offi- 

if  the  brig  in 
of  Boston,  a 
ted  near  Mo- 
lat  tba  Moors 


1801] 


NAVAL   HISTOIl  T, 


167 


worn  waiting  fiir  other  veaseli,  (.'apn  (k^  (intt  hnins  «  hradland 
commonly  niado  by  iivery  thing  that  Iteeps  the  iK)rth  pthore  of 
the  MtHiitnrranoan  aboard. 

CupUin  HHinhri(igt%  on  receiving  this  intelligence,  did  not 
tM>«itute  about  tai<ing  ^MMmnMa  of  tno  M««hboha.  Her  (M'^le 
Gould  not  all  be  roiiKiviKl  until  nt>4ir  daylight ;  »nd  duruiK  (ho 
time  'hat  won  ()ccup>t>«i  in  nunalt'rnng  th«iin  to  tho  frigati*,  the 
brig  h«(l  disa|i|M<anml.  On  tho  afWrnotju  of  tho'<J7th,  however, 
she  waa  MC'n  doubling  tho  caiMi,  coining  from  tho  (^oatward, 
and  hiiKging  the  land,  whilo  mIio  ateert^  in  the  dirtx'tion  of  Al* 
mt>rin,  probably  with  the  bow!  of  K^'Uing  lo  111-  wintward  of 
tho  alii|)a,  in  order  to  run  to  languira.  ()wing  u>  light  winds, 
it  wiiM  midnight  ly>forfi  ahe  could  be  ni-tak  on. 

It  was  now  all-im|xirtan'  to  discover  on  what  authority  thb 
capture  had  been  made.  The  Moorish  commander,  at  flrat, 
statf^  that  he  had  takt-n  the  ('elia,  in  nnticipntion  of  a  war ;  a 
inrioua  misunikTaUiiiding  cxiaung  bntwucm  ihe  Emperor  and 
the  American  eonaul,  wlwn  lie  left  port.  Thia  story  seemed 
so  imprubablo  that  it  was  not  believed,  and  Captain  BainbridgB 
oould  only  get  at  tiie  truth  by  threatening  to  oxecuto  h'"  pn* 
soner  as  a  pirate,  unless  ho  showed  his  commission.  This 
menaco  pmvuilod,  and  Ibrahim  Lubarez  pretM-nted  an  order 
from  tho  (Sovoruor  of  Tangiers,  to  capture  all  Americriis  that 
he  might  fail  in  with. 

The  Philadelphia  returned  to  Oibraltar  with  her  prizes,  and 
leaving  the  latter,  she  went  ofl'  Capo  St.  Vincent,  in  quest  of* 
Moorish  frigato  that  was  said  to  be  cruising  there.  Not  suo* 
cc<Hling  ill  hiiding  thn  Moor,  Coptnin  Bainbridge  ran  throuffli 
the  stroita  again,  and  went  alotl.  While  at  Gibraltar,  Mr. 
David  Porter  joined  him  as  first  lieutenant. 

Shortly  after  the  Philadelp^iia  had  gone  to  her  station  off 
Tripoli,  the  New  York  8^,  Commodore  Uodgers,  and  the  John 
Adnms  28,  (Japtain  Campbell,  reached  Gibraltar,  in  the  ex- 
pectation of  meeting  tho  now  flag-ship.  In  a  day  or  two  the 
Constitution  came  in,  as  did  tho  Nautilus,  which  had  been  giv< 
ing  convoy  up  the  Mediterranean.  As  soon  aa  Commodore 
Preble  was  apprised  of  the  facta  connected  with  -the  capture 
of  the  M'whboha,  he  saw  the  necessity  of  disposing  of  the 

Juestion  with  Morocco,  before  he  left  the  entrance  of  the  Me- 
itermneon  again  open,  by  going  off  Tripoli.  Commodore 
Rodgera  was  the  senior  officer,  anu  his  authority  in  those  seas 
lad  properly  ceased,  but,  in  the  handsomest  manner,  he  con- 
«ated  v^  atxoropany  Commodore  Preble  to  Tangiers,  leaving 


168 


NAVAL     HIITORT* 


rieos 


thfl  latter  hi«  power  to  aci,  m  nc||(jiia:nr  and  commanibr^iB' 
ebbr.  AccMrilioal/  tho  (^onatilution  44,  New  York  36,  John 
AdaiTM  an,  qml  Nautilu*  I'J,  wont  inU»  tlw  Hay  of  Taogi«»ni, 
Oiitoher  tto  6th,  1803.  Coinmodom  Pmtnle,  an  thia  oc<'«Mion, 
diacovorad  that  pruinptitu<l<),  apint  and  dw>.retion,  whu-h  wnro 
•fl«rwarda  ao  conapicuoua  in  hia  chnrarlur ;  and  atler  a  ^hort 
n«i;<>lialion,  tho  r«latioria  of  tho  two  aiuntruw  were  plactul  on 
their  fornwr  nmioable  footing  Tho  rommodore  hwJ  an  inter* 
viflw  with  lh«i  Krnpfiror,  which  tfTininattHJ  in  lh«  hnppirat  re- 
•ulta.  On  tho  part  of  Monn  co,  iho  «ict  of  tho  (Jovi'rnor  of 
Tniigicra  waa  diaavowud  j  an  Aiiwrican  voaaci  that  had  Jjocn 
dotainiid  at  Mogaduro,  waa  roliwMcd ;  and  th<i  Kni|ioror  alKxed 
hia  Bcal  onow  to  tho  to-nty  of  1786,     Thti  rommodoro  then 

yo  up  tho  Moahboha,  and  it  waa  aU)  ngn^'d  to  rtiturn  the 
!<<«h<iii<la,  tho  ahip  taken  by  tho  John  Adunis.  ('Uii^rma,  in 
Xiw)  vnd,  however,  appropriated  nn  I'ljuivalont  to  thccaptora  of 
tiirae  two  vcaacta,  in  lieu  of  prize-money. 

Aa  ooon  m  the  difficulti««  with  Morocco  were  aettlotl,  tJom- 
modom  Rodgeni  aailed  for  Aiwrica ;  nnd  Commo«loiti  Proble 
dovoUnl  himaelf  with  energy  and  prudence  in  innkuig  liia  pre* 
parationa  to  hnnu  Tripoli  to  tnrmi.  Tho  latter  hud  an  nrdu- 
OUB  tiuk  before  hiin ;  ond  ita  difficultieji  were  incrcusiHi  bv  tM 
circumatance  that  he  waa  pcraonally  known  to  8can»ly  an 
officer  under  hia  command.  During  the  war  with  France,  the 
ahipa  had  boon  principally  ofTicorod  from  tho  atatea  in  which 
they  had  lieen  built  j  ami  Captain  Preble,  a  ckiwn  of  New 
llanipNhirn,  had  hitherto  commandisl  veooela  under  tliew  cir- 
cumatancoa.  Ho  had  rnilod  for  tho  bloat  Indiea  in  1800,  in 
the  Kaaex  32,  and  had  been  much  removed  from  the  roat  of 
the  navy,  in  tho  counio  of  hia  iwrvh*.  By  one  of  thooe  ooci- 
denta  that  oo  often  influence  the  affaira  of  life,  all  the  com- 
mandcra  placed  under  tho  orders  of  Commodore  Pr«;ble,  with 
the  exception  of  Mr.  Hull,  came  from  the  middle  or  tho  aoiith* 
crn  atatea ;  and  it  ia  believed  that  moat  of  them  had  never  even 
aeen  their  preaent  commander,  until  they  went  in  person  to  re* 
port  themitclvca  and  their  voaaoia.  Thia  waa  not  onl^  true  of 
the  comtiiundera,  but  a  largo  portion  of  tho  subordinate  ofii- 
cera,  also,  wore  in  the  same  situation ;  even  most  of  thoae  in 
tho  Constitution  herself,  having  been  personally  straugora  to 
tho  commander  of  the  oquadron.  Th«  period  waa  now  ap> 
prooching  when  tho  force  about  to  be  employed  before  Tripoli 
was  to  assemble,  and  a  service  was  in  perspective  that  pro* 
miscd  to  let  tho  whole  squadron  into  the  secret  of  iU  com* 


{IM 

(Cork  36,  iohn 
r  of  Tmagivsn, 
thia  ncrthjtiua, 
n,  whii'h  wtiro 
1  uDnc  K  kHoH 
irtsrn  |)lac«<ii  on 
1  hiul  an  inter* 
in  hnppirHi  n» 

0  (JoviTiior  of 
that  hail  \irmn 
iii|iuror  athxod 
inmodora  then 
i  to  ntturii  the 

C^iignma,  in 
the  captorn  of 

1  aettlwl,  Coin* 
mo4jon)  Probia 
mking  hi*  pi«« 
'  hud  an  ardu- 
crcasMHl  by  lk«l 
to  scan^ly  an 
ith  Framv",  the 
itatpfl  in  which 
itiwn  of  New 
nckjr  llieai)  cir* 
ios  in  1800,  in 
m  thp  roat  of 
I  of  thoae  aocU 
fo,  all  the  com- 
r«  Pn;blo,  with 
lo  or  the  noiith- 
liad  novor  even 
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NAVAL    HISTOBT. 


189 


mander's  true  character.  Previously  to  relating  the  events 
that  thin  occurred,  however,  it  will  be  oeceMary  to  return  to 
the  movements  of  the  Philadelphia  38,  Captain  Bainbridge. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

It  has  been  seen  that  the  Philadelphia  captured  the  Mesh- 
boha,  on  the  night  of  tho  26th  of  August,  1808.  The  return 
to  Gibraltar,  the  run  off  Cape  Vincent,  and  the  passage  up  the 
Mediterranean,  brought  it  late  in  the  seasop,  before  that  ship 
could  reach  her  station.  Here  the  Vixen  12,  Lieutenant  Com- 
mandant Smith,  which  schooner  had  arrived  at  Gibraltar  about 
the  middle  of  September,  appeared  also,  and  the  blockade  was 
resumed  by  these  two  vessels,  the  Enterprise  having  gone 
below.  Unfortunately,  soon  after  his  arrival,  Captain  Bain- 
bridge sent  the  schooner  in  quest  of  a  Tripobtan  cruiser,  that 
he  learned  from  the  master  of  a  neutral  had  got  to  sea  a  short 
time  previously.  This  left  the  frigate  alone,  to  perform  a  very 
delicate  service,  the  blockading  vessels  being  constantly  com- 
pelled to  chase  in-shore.  

Towards  the  last  of  the  month  of  October,  the  wmd,  which 
had  been  strong  from  the  westward  for  some  time  previously, 
drove  the  Philadelphia  a  considerable  distance  to  the  eastward 
of  the  town,  and  on  Monday,  October  the  31st,  as  she  was 
running  down  to  her  station  again,  with  a  fair  breeze,  about 
nine  in  the  morning,  a  vessel  was  seen  in-shore,  and  to  wind- 
ward, standing  for  Tripoli  Sail  was  made  to  cut  her  off. 
Believing  himself  to  be  within  long  gun-shot  a  little  before 
eleven,  and  seeing  no  other  chance  of  overtakine  the  stranger 
in  the  short  distance  that  remained.  Captain  Baiubridge  opened 
a  fire,  in  tbs  hope  of  cuUins  something  awa;^.  For  near  an 
hour  longer,  the  chase  and  the  fire  were  continued ;  the  lead, 
wnlch  was  constantly  kept  going,  giving  from  seven  to  tea 
fathoms,  and  the  ship  hauling  up  and  keeping  away,  as  the 
water  shoaled  or  deepened.  At  half-past  eleven,  Tripdi  then 
being  in  plain  sigirt',  aistant  a  little  more  than  a  league,  satisfied 
that  he  could  neither  overtake  the  chase,  nor  force  her  ashore, 
Captain  Bainbridge  ordered  the  helm  a-port,  to  haul  directly 
1& 


r 


170 


N'A  \  A  L     HISTORY. 


[leos. 


olT  tbb  l*iMi  into  deep  water.  The  next  cast  of  the  lead,  when 
this  order  was  executed,  gave  but  eight  fathoim,  and  thia  was 
immediately  followed  by  casts  that  gave  seven,  and  six  and  a 
half.  At  this  moment,  the  wind  was  nearly  abeam,  and  the 
■hip  had  eight  knots  way  on  her.  When  the  cry  of  "  half- 
six''  was  hoard,  the  helm  was  put  hard  down,  and  the  yards 
wort)  ordered  to  be  braced  Hhorp  up.  While  the  ship  was 
coming  up  fast  to  the  wind,  and  before  she  had  lost  any  of  her 
way,  she  struck  a  reef  forwards,  and  shot  up  on  it,  until  she 
lifted  between  five  and  six  feet. 

This  was  an  appalling  accident  to  occur  on  the  coast  of  such 
an  enemvt  at  that  season  of  the  year,  and  with  no  other  cruiser 
near  I  ft  was  first  attempted  to  force  the  vessel  ahead,  under 
the  impi«ssioa  that  the  best  water  woa  to  sea-ward ;  but  on 
sounding  around  the  ship,  it  was  found  that  sho  had  run  up 
with  such  force,  as  to  lie  nearly  cradled  on  the  rocks ;  there 
being  only  14  feet  of  water  under  the  fore-chains,  while  the 
■hip  drew,  before  striking,  18i  feet  forward.  Astern  there 
•rei«  not  18  feet  of  water,  instead  of  20^,  which  the  frigate 
needed.  Such  an  accident  could  oa\y  have  occurred  by  the 
vessers  hitting  the  reef  at  a  spot  where  it  sloped  gnulually,  and 
where,  moat  probably  the  constant  washing  of  the  element  had 
rendered  the  surface  smooth ;  and  by  her  going  up,  on  the  top 
of  one  of  thoae  long,  heavy,  but  nearly  imperceptible  swells, 
that  are  always  agitating  the  bosom  of  the  ocean. 

The  vessel  of  which  the  Philr^lelphia  had  been  in  chase  was 
a  large  xebeck,  and  her  commander,  acquainted  with  the  coast, 
stood  on,  inside  of  the  reef,  doubled  the  ede;e  of  the  shoal,  and 
reached  Tripoli  ib  safety.  The  firing,  however,  had  brought 
ont  nine  gun-boats,  which  now  appeared,  taming  to  windward. 
Not  a  moment  was  to  be  los%  as  it  would  riwrtly  be  in  the 
power  of  these  vessels  to  assail  the  frigate  abnoA  with  impu- 
nity. Finding,  on  farther  examination,  deep  water  in  shore,  the 
yards  were  next  Ivaoed  aback,  and  the  guns  were  run  aft,  in 
the  equally  vain  hope  of  forcing  the  ship  astern,  or  to  make 
her  sUde  off  the  sloping  rocks  on  whwh  she  had  ran  sc  hard. 
It  was  some  time  before  this  projei^  was  abandoned,  as  it  was 
the  most  practicaUe  means  of  getting  afloat. 
On  a  omsultation  with  his  officers.  Captain  Bainlnridfle  next 

give  orders  to  throw  overboard  the  guns,  reserving  a  few  aft 
r  defence;  the  anchors,  with  the  exceptioB  of  the  larboard 
bower,  were  cut  froeo  the  bows.  Before  this  could  be  efiected 
the  enemy  came  within  gun-shot,  and  opened  hii  fire.    For- 


i' 


%. 


'%fi 


.-^^»^«Kj.a.V«,i.,.«.<tAA^. 


I  ilfriiiriiiirniii 


„,,^„^i„,ai,j,fig,g[iglligl 


-.tki^Ji 


mn 


[1803. 

le  lead,  when 
and  thin  was 
ind  iiix  and  a 
earn,  and  tho 
ry  of  "  half- 
ind  the  yards 
the  ship  was 
Mt  any  of  hor 
n  it,  until  she 

coast  of  such 
I  other  cruitier 
ahead,  under 
vard;  but  on 
?  had  run  up 
I  rocks ;  there 
ins,  while  the 
Astern  there 
ch  the  frigate 
:curred  by  the 
gradually,  and 
le  element  had 
up,  on  the  top 
eptible  swells, 
n. 

n  in  chase  vas 
with  the  coast, 
the  shoal,  and 
r,  had  broaght 
g;  to  windward, 
trtlj  be  in  the 
gat  with  impu- 
er  in  shore,  the 
ere  run  aft,  in 
i»,  or  to  make 
d  run  sc  hard. 
Med,  as  it  was 

faiinlMridfle  next 
ring  a  nw  aft 
)f  the  larboard 
Nild  be  efiected 
bki  fire.    For- 


180S] 


NAVAL     HItTOET. 


171 


tunately,  the  Tripolitans  were  ignorant  of  the  desperate  con- 
dition of  the  Philadelphia,  and  wore  kept  at  a  respectful  dis- 
tanco  by  tho  f<;w  guns  that  remained ;  else  they  might  have 
destroyed  most  of  tho  crew,  it  being  certain  that  the  colours 
would  not  be  struck  so  long  as  there  was  any  hope  of  getting 
the  ship  afloat.  The  cannonade,  which  was  distant  and  ineffi- 
cient,  and  the  business  of  lightening  the  frigate,  west  on  at  the 
same  time,  and  occupied  several  hours. 

The  encmv  finally  became  so  bold,  that  they  crossed  the 
stern  of  the  frigate,  where  alone  they  were  at  all  exposed  to 
her  fire,  and  took  a  position  on  her  starboard,  or  weather  quar- 
ter. Here  it  was  impossible  to  touch  them,  the  ship  having 
heeled  to  port,  '  >  i  way  lo  render  it  impracticable  to  bring  a 
single  gun  to  Lear,  or,  indeed,  to  use  one  at  all,  on  that  sidie. 

Captain  Dainbridge  now  called  another  council  of  his  ch- 
eers, and  it  was  determined  Jo  make  a  last  effort  to  get  the 
vessel  ofT.  Tho  water-casks,  in  the  hold,  were  started,  and 
the  water  was  pumped  out.  All  the  heavy  articles  that  could 
be  got  at,  were  thrown  overboard,  and  finally  the  fore-mast 
was  cut  away,  bring^n^  down  with  it  the  main-top-gal!ant-mast. 
Notwithstanding  all  thu,  the  vessel  remained  as  immovable  as 
the  rocks  on  which  she  lay. 

The  gun-boats  were  growing  bolder  every  minutt>,  others 
were  approaching,  and  ni^ht  was  at  hand.  Captain  Bain- 
bridge,  after  consulting  agam  with  his  officers,  felt  it  to  be  an 
imperious  duty  to  haul  down  his  flag,  to  save  the  lives  of  the 
peopk.  Before  this  was  done,  however,  the  magazine  was 
drowned,  boles  were  bored  in  the  ship's  bottom,  the  pumpa 
were  choked,  and  every  thing  was  performed  that  it  was 
thought  would  make  the  final  loss  oftlie  vessel  sure.  About 
five  o'clock  the  cdoura  were  lowered. 

It  is  a  curious  cirQumstance  that  this  was  the  second  in- 
stance in  which  an  American  vessel  of  war  had  been  compel- 
led to  haul  down  her  flag,  since  the  fbrmatioo  of  the  new  ma- 
rine,  and  that  in  each  casn  the  same  officer  commanded.  Af- 
ter the  accounts  g:ven  in  this  work,  it  is  umeoeasary  to  -vU 
t)»t  on  both  occasioas  an  imperious  necessity  pftdtwed  this 
siiicular  ooiDcideDoe. 

The  ship  had  no  sooner  struck  than  the  gun-boats  ran  down 
aknigside  of  her,  and  tuok  poasnaion.  I'he  barbarians  rushed 
into  the  vessel,  and  began  to  plunder  their  captives.  Not  onl^ 
were  the  ektbes  which  the  Americans  had  collected  in  their 
bags  and  in  bundles,  taken  from  themj  but  many  officers  and 


.MMMWMiiiiiiiMalMWtltll 


«#' 


172 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[imx 


men  were  strippt^d  iialf-nakod.  Thoy  wore  hurried  into  bonis, 
and  sent  to  Tripoli,  and  oven  on  th^  pausago  the  businetw  of 
plundering  went  on.  The  oflficors  were  rospectod  little  more 
than  tho  common  mcn^  and,  while  in  the  boat.  Captain  Bain* 
bridge  himself  was  robbed  of  hia  epaulets,  gloves,  wuich,  and 
money.  His  cravat  was  oven  lorn  from  his  neck.  He  wore 
0  miniature  of  his  wife,  and  of  this  the  Tripolitans  endeavour, 
cd  to  deprive  him  also,  but,  a  youthful  and  attached  husband,  he 
resisted  so  seriously  that  the  attempt  was  relinquished. 

It  was  near  lU  o'clock  at  night,  when  tho  boats  reached  the 
town.  Tho  prisoners  were  '  mded  in  a  body,  near  the  ba- 
shaw's palace,  and  they  wero  conducted  to  his  presence.  Tho 
prince  received  his  captives  in  an  audience  hall,  seated  in  a 
chair  of  stale,  and  surrounded  by  his  ministers.  Here  Captain 
Bainbridge  was  formally  presented  to  him,  as  his  prisoner, 
when  the  bashaw  himself  directed  all  the  officers  to  be  seated. 
The  minister  of  foreign  affairs,  Mohammed  D'Ghies,  spoke 
French,  and  through  him  the  bashaw  held  a  conversation  of 
some  leng*h  with  Captain  Bainbrid^.  The  latter  was  asked 
many  questions  concerning  the  Philadelphia,  the  force  of  the 
Americans  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  he  was  civilly  consoled 
for  his  captivity,  by  being  reminded  that  it  was  merely  the  for* 
tune  of  war. 

When  the  coorersation  had  ended,  the  officers  were  con- 
ducted to  another  apartment,  where  a  supper  hod  been  provided, 
and  as  soon  as  this  meal  haid  been  taken  b^  those  who  had  a 
desire  to  eat,  they  were  led  back  to  the  audience  hall,  and  paid 
their  parting  compliments  to  the  bashaw.  Hero  the  captives 
were  infonmd  that  they  were  put  under  the  special  charge  of 
Sidi  Mohammed  D'Ohies;  who  conducted  them  to  the  house 
that  had  lately  been  the  American  consulate.  The  building 
was  spacious  and  commodious,  but  aUnost  destitute  of  flirm* 
tore.  It  was  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  but  at  that  late  hour 
even,  appeared  Mr.  Nissen,  the  Danish  consul,  bringing  with 
him  the  consolations  of  sympathy  and  hope.  This  benevolent 
man  was  introduced  to  Captain  Bainbndge,  by  Mohammed 
D'Ghies,.  as  His  personal  friend,  and  as  one  on  whose  honour, 
humanity  and  good  faith,  full  reliance  might  be  placed.  Mo- 
hammed D'Ghies,  himself,  was  known  by  reputation  to  Cap- 
tain Bainbridge,  and  he  had  shown  delicacy  and  feeling  in  the 
exercise  of  his  trust.  His  recommendation,  which  was  point- 
edly significant,  coupled  with  the  manner  of  Mr.  Nissen,  excited 
a  confidence  that  in  the  end  proved  to  be  most  worthilv  be- 


\ 


III  III iiiA»« 


MwtttHliWiiiiaM 


(180% 

cd  into  boats, 
I  business  of 
id  little  more 
'aptatn  Bain* 
s,  Wbich,  and 
sk.  Ho  wore 
[IS  endeavour* 
1  husband,  he 
lishod. 

:s  rcoched  the 
near  the  ba* 
■escnce.  The 
,  seated  in  a 
Here  Captain 
his  prisoner, 
I  to  be  seated. 
'Chios,  spoke 
tnversation  of 
Br  was  asked 
J  force  of  the 
rilly  consoled 
fierely  the  for* 

Bra  were  con* 
lieen  provided, 
«e  who  had  a 
hall,  and  paid 
3  the  captives 
cial  charge  of 
1  to  the  house 
The  building 
itute  of  flimi* 
that  late  hour 
bringing  'vith 
his  benevolent 
y  Mohammed 
ivhoae  honour, 
placed.  Mo* 
itation  to  Cap- 
I  feeling  in  the 
ich  was  point* 
^issen,  excited 
it  worthilv  be* 


1303.] 


NAVAL    HIBTOar. 


173 


•towed.  Every  thing  that  could  be  devised  at  thet  unseason- 
able hour,  was  done  by  Mr.  Nisscn.  This  was  but  the  com- 
mencement of  a  series  of  indefatigable  and  unwearying  kind- 
nesstis,  that  endured  to  the  last  mosnent  of  the  captivity  of  the 
Americans 

The  misfortune  that  befel  the  PhiladelpMa,  made  a  material 
difference  in  the  state  of  the  war.  Until  this  moment,  the 
bashaw  hod  received  but  little  to  compensate  him  for  the  incon- 
venience to  which  he  was  put  by  the  blockade,  and  for  the  loss 
of  his  different  cruisers.  Hi*  corsairs  hod  captured  but  very 
few  merchant  vessels,  and  they  ran  the  greatest  risks,  when- 
ever they  appeared  out  of  their  own  ports.  As  yet,  it  is  true, 
nothing  had  been  attempted  against  his  town,  but  he  knew  it 
was  at  any  timn  liable  to  a  bombardment.  It  was  thought, 
therefore,  that  he  was  not  indisposed  to  peuoe,  when  accident 
threw  the  crew  of  the  Philadelphia  so  unexpectedly  into  his 
power. 

The  bashaw,  however,  had  now  a  hold  upon  his  enemy,  that, 
agreeably  to  the  usages  of  Barbary,  enabled  him  to  take  much 
higher  ground  in  proposing  his  terms.  In  his  previous  nego- 
tiations, he  had  asked  a  large  sum  as  the  price  of  the  few  cap- 
lives  he  then  held,  but  the  denwnd  had  been  rejected  tm  unrea- 
sonable and  exorbitant.  On  board  the  Philadelphia  were  three 
hundred  and  fifteen  souls,  and  amopg  them  were  no  less  than 
twenty-two  quarter-deck  officers,*  Bentlemen  in  whoee  fort  ues 
the  bashaw  well  knew  there  would  be  a  lively  interest  felt,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  concern  that  a  government  like  that  of 
America  was  expected  to  manifest  for  the  fate  of  its  seamen. 
Under  theee  ciroumstanoes,  therefore,  the  divan  of  Trmp|i  felt 
strongly  encouraged  to  continue  the  war,  in  the  hope  of  receiv- 
ing a  high  ransom  for  the  prisoners,  and  in  the  expecliition  of 
holding  a  check  on  the  measures  of  its  enemy,  by  its  means  of 
retaliation. 

•  WUUsn  BfeiabridM,  oapUiD;  Divid  Porter,  flfrt  lleatMMBt;  Jsmb 
JobM,  •eooad  do. ;  ThMidora  Hob:,  third  da ;  Braiunin  Boiith,  fimrih  do. } 
WUUsm  Osboni,  UeotoiiMrt  of  owriiMs ;  Jolm  HidnlT,  luftMm  {  J.  Cow- 
derv,  do.  mat*;  Niohoiss  Hsrwood,  do.  do.{  KeWb Bmbm,  porm;  sud 

■iuw.  WaflsM  WaraloT,  Kobni  Ounble,  Jums  BfahUs.  Kiehurd  R. 
JoM^  DmiM  T.  Ffelttrm.  Staon  Snith,  sad  WUlkin  ^>tbaib,  mid. 


•hlpmoB;WUU«BAirf«rsqmo«ptBin'solsrk.  OftliMSfMiUMiMn,Mawn. 
J.  ioMs,  lUwrtMiw,  Biddls,  uidPstterMm,  sro  itUl  in  senrico,  and  hsft all 
worn  brosd  pemuuit*.  Dr.Cowdery  is  Um  oldMt  nrgeon  now  in  Um 
nsTT. 

15* 


mm 


174 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


[ld(K). 


Tho  Philadelphia  ran  ov  the  reef  on  the  31  it  of  October,  and 
her  |)ooplo  wore  landed  during  the  night  of  the  sanio  day. 
Tho  Tri|K)litnn«  sot  about  their  arrangttmcnts  to  got  the  ihip 
off,  next  mornlMg,  and  oa  thcv  wore  near  their  own  port,  had 
(W  many  gun-boata  and  galley*  at  their  disiioMi,  and  were 
unmoleatcd  by  any  cruiaor,  it  waa  announwd  to  the  baahaw 
that  there  wore  hopea  of  aaving  the  frigate.  In  tlw  courao  of 
tbo  2d  of  November,  it  came  on  to  blow  frcah  from  the  north- 
weat,  and  tho  wind  forcing  tho  water  ud  on  the  African  coaat, 
while  it  bore  on  the  larboard  quarter  ofthe  ship,  her  stern  waa 
driven  round,  and  she  floated,  in  part,  though  she  continued  to 
thump  aa  the  aeaa  left  her.  Anchora  wore  now  carried  out, 
•II  the  diipoaable  force  of  the  town  was  applied,  and  on  the  0th, 
the  Philadelphia  waa  got  into  deep  water.  Tho  aamo  day,  aho 
waa  brought  within  two  miles  of  tho  city,  where  she  waa  com- 
pelled to  anchor,  on  account  of  the  atate  of  the  weather.  Hero 
she  was  kept  afloat  by  meana  ofnumpin^,  while  men  were  em- 
ployed in  stopping  the  leaks.  The  busmeas  of  scuttling  ap- 
pears to  have  been  but  imperfectly  performed,  a  few  holes  hav- 
ing been  merely  bored  in  the  bottom  of  the  ship,  instead  of 
cutting  through  the  planks,  as  had  been  ordered.  The  weather 
continuing  remarkably  pleasant,  the  Turks  finally  succeeded 
in  not  only  getting  tho  frigate  into  port,  but  in  weighing  all  her 
guns  and  anchors  which  lay  in  shallow  water  on  the  reef,  as 
well  as  in  getting  up  nefcrly  every  thins  clae  that  had  been 
thrown  overboard.  The  ship  was  partia%  repaired,  her  guns 
were  remounted,  and  she  was  moored  oflT  the  town,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  bashaw's  castle. 

Commodoie  Preble,  on  his  return  from  Tanaiers  to  Oibrel- 
tor,  on  the  16th  of  October,  went  round  to  Cadiz ;  soon  after, 
he  re-appeared  at  the  fonner  place,  mode  a  formal  announce- 
ment ofthe  blockade  of  Tripoli,  on  the  12th  of  November,  on 
which  day  the  ship  ho  believed  to  be  in  the  active  execution 
of  that  duty,  was  in  the  poasosaion  of  the  enemy,  and  on  the 
13th,  he  sailed  for  Algiers.  After  landins  a  consul  at  the  lat- 
ter place,  he  proceeded  to  Malta,  off  which  port  he  arrived  on 
the  27th  of  November.  Here  he  was  met  by  letters  from  Cap- 
tain  Bainbridge,  and  he  obtained  a  confirmation  of  the  loss  of 
the  Philadelphia,  a  rumour  of  which  event  had  reached  him 
lower  down  the  coast.  The  Constitution  sailed  immediately 
for  Syracuse,  and  got  in  next  day. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  1808,  Commodore  Preble,  after 
making  his  preparations  and  disposing  of  his  foioe  io  difierant 


turn. 

f  October,  and 
ho  Mine  (lay. 

0  got  the  ahip 
own  port,  had 
mal,  and  wcro 
to  thu  banhaw 

tiK)  courao  of 
rom  the  north* 
African  cooat, 
,  her  atom  waa 
ie  oonlinucd  to 
iw  carried  out, 
md  on  the  0th, 
oame  day,  aho 
)  ahe  waa  com- 
voather.    Hero 

1  men  were  em- 
r  acuttling  ap- 
few  holea  hav- 
bip,  instead  of 

The  weather 
lally  succeeded 
weighing  all  her 
on  the  reef,  as 
that  had  been 
aired,  her  guna 
town,  Bb(Hit  a 

;ier«  to  GibraK 
liz ;  aoon  after, 
nra)  announce* 
'November,  on 
iclive  execution 
ly,  and  on  the 
>naul  at  the  lat* 
t  he  arrived  on 
ittera  from  Cap* 
I  of  the  loas  of 
id  reached  him 
9d  iounediately 

re  Preble,  afler 
iioe  io  difierent 


1803] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


175 


wavB,  sailed  for  Tripoli,  with  the  Knterpriae  in  company,  off 
which  place  he  now  apptiarcd  (or  (ho  first  tinto.  Tho  USd  of 
the  month,  the  Enterpriao  12,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Deca- 
tur, foil  in  with  and  captured  a  kotch,  with  aoventy  souls  on  J 
board.  This  kotch  hod  boon  a  French  Kun-voswsl  in  Egynt,  ' 
that  had  been  taken  by  tho  English  on<i  had  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  Tripolitanii.  She  was  now  Iniund  to  Constanti- 
nople, with  a  proaont  of  female  alaves  for  the  Porte.  A  few 
days  after  this  prise  was  taken,  it  came  on  to  blow  heavily 
flrom  tho  northoast,  and  finding  the  fVigate  in  dongor  of  being 
lost  on  tho  coast,  at  that  tcm|ioatuous  scaaun,  ('ouinKidoro  Pre- 
ble returned  to  Byracuse ;  uot,  however,  until  he  had  recon- 
noitred his  enemy,  and  formed  his  plan  of  operations  for  the 
ftiture.  Means  had  been  found  to  communicate  with  Captain 
Bainbridge,  also ;  and  several  letters  were  received  ftrom  thrt 
officer,  pointing  out  difieront  methods  of  annoying  the  enemy. 

In  a  letter  of  the  date  of  the  ftth  of  December,  1808,  Cap- 
tain Bainbridge  suggested  the  possibility  of  destroying  the 
Philadelphia,  which  ship  was  slowly  fitting  for  sea,  there  be- 
ing little  doubt  of  her  being  sent  out  as  a  cruiser,  as  soon  a« 
the  mild  season  should  return.  Commodore  Preble  listened 
to  the  suggestion,  and  being  much  in  the  society  of  the  com* 
mander  of  the  vessel  that  was  moat  in  company  with  the  Con* 
stitution,  Lieutenont  Stephen  Decatur,  he  mentioned  the  project 
to  that  spirited  officer.  The  expedition  was  just  suited  lo  the 
ardour  and  temperament  of  Mr.  Decatur,  and  the  posseesion 
of  the  prize  at  once  aflbrded  the  means  of  carrying  it  into  eflect. 
The  ketch  waa  acoordingly  appraised,  named  the  Intrepid,  and 
taken  into  the  service,  as  a  tender.  About  this  time.  Lieute- 
nant Commandant  Stewart,  of  the  Siren,  the  officer  who  was 
then  second  in  command  in  thu  Mediterranean,  and  who  had 
just  arrived  from  below,  odi<r^  to  cut  out  the  Philadelphia 
with  his  own  bria ;  but  Commodore  Preble  was  pledged  to  Mr. 
Decatur,  who,  at  fint,  had  proposed  to  run  in  with  the  Enterurise 
and  carry  the  ship.  The  moie  experieooed  Preble  rejected  the 
propooitions  of  both  Uieee  ardent  young  not,  sabetituting  ■ 
plan  of  his  own. 

Although  Commodore  Preble  declined  the  proposal  of  Mr. 
Decatur  to  carry  in  the  Enterprise,  the  projected  service  was 
assigned  to  the  oonunuder  and  crew  of  that  schooner.  It 
being  neceMary.  however,  to  leave  some  of  ber  own  oficers 
and  peofde  in  bar,  a  aeleetkm  of  a  few  aentleawa  to  join 
in  the  expedition,  was  made  from  the  flag*iinip,  and  orden  to 


■MMSSMS 


'""^^ 


176 


NAVAL     HIBTOBf. 


(IIN 


that  offcct  were  ueued  accordingly.    Thews  onkn  were  dated 
February  the  3d,  1804,  and  they  directed  the  diffiirent  gt-nlte- 
men  nnmod  to  report  thcmaelvca  to  Lieutenant  Commandant 
Decatur,  of  th«i  Knternrimj.     A»  it  waa  intended  that  the  crew 
of  the  ichooncr  •hould  furniih  iho  entire  crew  of  the  ketth,  it 
waa  not  thought  pro,«r  to  o<ld  uny  men  to  thia  draft.    In  ihort, 
the  duty  waa  atricliy  aaaigned  to  the  Enturpriae,  (W  fcr  aa  her 
complement  could  ftiraiah  the  offlcera  roouirod.    On  the  alter- 
noon  of  lh«  M,  according  to  iho  ordera  they  had  juit  rwseived, 
Meaara.  laard,  Morria,  Lawt,  I)avi«,  and  Howe,  midahipnien 
of  the  Conatitution,  wont  on  board  th»)  ichooncr,  and  reported 
themaelvea  for  duty  to  her  commander.     All  handn  were  now 
called  in  the  Entcrpriae,  when  Lieutenant  Commandant  IMcatur 
acquainted  hia  people  with  the  deatination  of  the  ketch,  and 
•aked  for  volunteera.     Every  man  and  boy  m  the  achooner 
proaentcd  himaolf,  aa  ready,  and  willina  to  go.    Sulytwo  of 
the  moat  active  men  werfl  aeloctcd,  and  the  remainder,  with  a 
few  ofRcera,  were  loft  to  take  caro  of  the  veaael.    Aa  the  ordera 
to  d<'8troy  the  frigate,  and  not  to  attempt  to  bring  her  out,  were 
peremptory,  the  comiHiaUbSee,  which  had  been  prepared  for 
this  purpoae,  were  immediately  sent  on  board  the  Intrepid,  her 
crew  followed,  and  that  evening  the  ketch  aaUed,  under  the 
convoy  of  the  Siren  18,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Stewart,  who 
waa  properly  the  •enior  officer  of  the  expedition,  though,  owing 
to  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  aervice,  Mr.  Decatur  waa  permitted 
tc  conduct  the  more  active  part  of  the  duty,  at  hia  own  diacretion. 
The  party  in  the  ketoh  oooaiatwl  of  Lieutenant  Commandant 
Decatur;  Lieutenanta  Uwrence,  Bainbridge,  and  Thora ;  Mr. 
Thomaa  M'DowHigh,*  midahipman,  and  Dr.  I«»rinan,  aur- 

S»n  :  all  of  the  Enterpriae ;— Meaare.  Iiard,  Moma,  Lawa, 
Bvia,  and  Rowe,  midahiproen  of  the  CooatatutKMi;  and  Sal- 
vador  Catalano  the  pilot,  with  aUty-lwo  petty  offioera  and  com- 
mon men,  making  a  total  of  ■eywoty-four  aouU. 

It  ia  acart:ely  necaaaary  to  aay  that  the  acoommodationa 
were  none  of  the  beat,  with  ao  many  pereooa  cooped  up  in  a 
veaael  of  between  forty  and  fifty  tona  j  and  to  make  the  matter 
wone,  it  waa  aoon  found  that  the  aalted  meat  put  on  board 
waa  moM,  and  that  there  waa  Utile  beaidea  bread  and  water  toft 
to  aubaiat  on.    The  weather,  however,  wm  pleaaant,  and  the 


•Mr 

lothaFhtl 


Tbonaa  WDoDoogb,  dUrwards  n  'i'tior^i^.^u^*'?!!! 


i*M«> 


(1804 
ra  were  dat«l 

CoinnuuuianI 
that  the  craw 
r  the  kotch,  it 
lA.    In  ihort, 

■o  ikr  oa  hor 
On  the  after* 
juit  received, 
,  midahipnint 

and  Imported 
kIh  w«ro  now 
ndant  Dncatur 
he  ketck,  and 

(he  acbooner 

Sixly-two  of 
ainder,  with  a 

Aa  the  ordcra 
;  her  out,  wen 
I  prepared  for 
e  Intrepid,  her 
od,  under  t>io 
;  Stewart,  who 
though, owing 
waa  permitted 
)wn  otacretion. 
t  Commandant 
id  Thorn ;  Mr. 
Heerman,  aur* 
Morria,  Laws, 
tion;  and  Sal* 
ioers  and  com* 

Boommodations 
cooped  up  in  a 
lake  the  matter 
t  put  CD  board 
d  and  water  left 
eaaant,  and  the 


IMi] 


NAVAL     MIITOKT, 


ITT 


Md,ha<l 
itOihnltaria 


wind  fkvotirahle,  and  the  two  VMunlagnl  in  aighl  nf  Tripoli  on 
the  arti-nioon  (»f  Ihfl  Wth.  Ti»  prnvRnl  •tmiiiciona,  ihr  Inlirpid 
now  went  aboad  of  tlio  Hirou  |  and  o  littio  alUsr  dark,  aho  nad 
stretrhed  in  quite  near  to  the  coaat,  with  a  breeia  at  aouthwoat, 
anchoring  about  a  mile  bi  the  windward  of  the  town.  Shortly 
after,  (ho  Hiren,  diaguuHHl,  brDuuh(-(o  a  li((le  (o  anaward  of  her. 
The  night  came  on  dark  ond  (bnialening,  bu(  i(  waa  in  aome 
reapec(a  ao  fkvourable  to  the  en(«irpriae,  (hat  Mr.  Doratur  waa 
relucUnt  to  let  i(  paaa  withou(  making  (ho  attempt.  The  pilot, 
howuver,  pronounced  it  extr«nely°  haxarduua  to  venture  in 
among  tlie  rocka  at  that  moment,  aa  he  thought  the  aea  muat 
be  breaking  acroaa  tlw  entrance,  by  which  it  waa  proooaed  to 
paaa.  Undbr  Iho  cm^umatanoea,  Mr.  Decatur,  wlio  diaplayed 
aa  much  conduct  and  prudence  aa  daring  gallantry  throughout 
thia  whole  afikir,  aent  Mr.  Morria  and  the  pilot,  in  a  boat  with 
muffled  oara,  to  reconnoitre.  Thia  young  officer  pulled  eloaa 
up  to  tiie  weatem  paaaage,  and  aaoertained  that  the  aea  waa  an 
ugh  that  it  waa,  in  fact,  breaking  entirely  acroaa  the  entranoa ) 
wban  ha  returned,  and  reported  that  it  would  be  hacardoua  to 
go  in,  and  that  to  oom«  out  would  bo  impoaaiblo. 

The  report  waa  acaroely  needed,  ibr,  by  thia  time,  the  wind 
had  riaen  ao  high,  and  so  mucn  aea  had  got  up,  that  in  hoisting 
in  the  boat,  it  waa  stove,  and  when  the  anchor  waa  weighed,  for 
it  waa  neoassarv  to  get  off  the  land  aa  soon  aa  poaaible,  it  waa 
found  to  be  broken.  The  Siren  had  anchoivd  a  little  without 
the  ketch,  and  had  hoiated  out  and  armed  her  boata,  whkh 
were  to  cover  the  retreat,  but  she,  too,  waa  compelled  to  get 
under  way,  by  the  increaain^  violence  of  the  wind.  Several 
boura  were  employed  in  •  vam  attempt  to  gat  her  anchor,  the 
brig  rolling  gunwales<to,  and  a  good  many  of  her  people, 
tofBtber  with  lieutenant  Commandant  Stewart,  wme  hurt  by 
the  capatau'a  running  away  with  the  ban.  In  the  end,  ttie 
weather  oame  on  ao  bad,  and  the  danger  of  baiag  seen  aa  tha 
day  dawned  waa  ao  much  increascJ,  that  the  anchor  and  cable 
were  left,  the  latter  having  been  cut  without  the  h«wae»bole. 

So  audden  and  violent  waa  the  gale,  that  there  had  been  no 
communieatMn  between  the  two  veasels,  the  Siren  having  no 
other  intimation  of  the  departure  of  the  ketch,  than  by  aeeing 
her  light  as  ahe  stretched  out  to  aea.  Luckily,  the  vnnd  waa 
«dl  to  the  weatward,  and  both  vesaela  got  an  offinpr  before 
thay  wwe  aeoi  fttwi  Triooli.  Here  they  ky-to,  with  their 
bsMs  off  shore,  oartein  or  beiag  Su  enough  lo  leeirsid,  to  be 
16 


178 


RATAL    HliTO«Y 


(liM. 


out  of  tight  In  the  inorninj.  Thfl  w.nU  Uan  to  ha»>  «»«»»« 
northw.rtl.  .nd  th«  ««l«  ImUkI  •!>  d.vi.  duringwhich  .imr 
grMt  frnrt  wnw  entrrliiinwJ  of  th«  kvtch't  foumlrirtng  M  m, 

or  of  her  Iwing,  «»i  !•«■«.  "Ik*""  «•>  •»»  •'"••«'  '^  *'''""»?'  '"  r 
wind  having  brought  i»h,  vr.«,l.  .m  «  l««.»iw"'-  IW""*  »1« 
wind  ab.l«.r.  Ibay  w«rt.  dnven  up  into  tho  Uulf  of  Hydr..  wl«r.i 

th«y  were  fcirly  •mb«y«d.  ,  .    w_i      -^  i.^  k 

On  ih«  Iftth  thfl  weather  modBrated.  and  tho  Wig  ww  liatcii, 
which  had  k«pt  in  company,  notwith.tanding  th«  gala,  widBt- 
vour«d  to  fatch  in  with  th«  land,  and  in  Ihr  rounw  of  the  night 
they  got  wo  near,  aa  to  reconnoitre  and  aw.pftain  th«ir  jxi-Uion. 
Finding  themaelvca  too  ft r  to  the  eaatward  to  rfftict  any  thing 
that  nighJ.  they  hauled  off  again,  in  order  to  eacape  detection. 
The  next  day,  about  noon,  calculating  that  they  ware  atrreMt 
of  the  town,  and  the  wind  and  weather  being,  in  all  reapecta, 
Ikvourable,  both  yeaaela  li"pt  away,  the  ketch  leading  iioma 
diatutoe,  in  order  that  the  enemy  might  not  «upp.»e  her  a 
eonaort  of  the  Birwi'a,  although  the  latter  waa  to  much  dia- 
ouiaed,  aa  to  rander  it  impoaaible  to  itioogniae  hw.    The  wind 
waa  fcir,  but  light,  and  every  thina  looking  Ikrourable,  Mr. 
Dwatur  now  aerloualy  made  hU  dbpoaltlooa  tor  the  attack. 
Apprehenrive  that  they  might  have  been  .eeo,  •nd  that   ha 
«,iJmy  had  poajibly  atrengthened   the  party  p"  ^»»«">  .«h« 
fVigate.  Lieutenant  tJommandant  Stewart  tent  a  boat  and  etght 
m«n  from  the  Siren,  to  the  ketch,  under  the  ordera  of  Mr.  An- 
deraon,  one  of  hia  mldahlpmen  i  which  reinforcement  Ioc'm'M 
the  number  of  the  Intwided  aaaallanta  to  ei.hty.two.  all  to  d. 

The  ordera  of  Lleutenwit  Commandant  Decatur  were  clear 
and  almple.  The  apar-deck  waa  firrt  to  be  earned,  then  the 
gunnJeck ;  after  whkh  the  following  dirt'»»>"''<«^'J«  «*"][ 
taa  made.  In  order  to  let  fire  to  the  ahip.  Mr.  Decatur,  with 
Meaara  Itard  and  Rowe,  and  flfteen  men,  waa  to  keep  pcaaea- 

•ioa  of  the  upper  deck.  Mr.  !*'''«»<*• '^*\*?r"-.*f!:; 
and  M'Donough  and  ten  men,  waa  to  repair  o  thj.  «»rth-decK 
and  forward  atore-rooma.  Mr.  Balnbrldge,  with  Mr.  Davta  and 
ten  men,  waa  to  go  Into  the  ward-room  and  ••«'.««ej  "Jr. 
Morria.  with  eight  moo,  waa  to  «o  into  the  cockpit  and  after 
Kore-itwrna;  Mr.  Thorn,  with  iU  gunner  and  aurpoo,  and 
thirteen  men,  waa  to  look  after  the  Twtch  ,■  to  "•'•I»™  *" 
aaaicDod  the  command  of  the  launch  ahould  ahe  be  needed  pind 
Mr.  Andertoo,  with  the  Siiwi't  cutter,  waa  to  •furedl  boato 
•longaide  of  the  ahip,  and  to  pment  the  people  ftom  iwlm. 


M— MMaiJl 


IM.) 


MATAL    NIITOKT. 


170 


n  to  haul  to  iha 
tng  which  lime 
im&ring  M  wm, 
10  changn  in  thn 
re.  IWore  th« 
of  Hydra,  wlww 

I  brig  and  ketch, 
th«  gal*.  mdM- 
unm  of  lh«  night 
in  th«ir  |iii«i«ic)n. 
viWi  any  thing 
racap«  (intention. 
Iwy  w«rR  atrroMt 
',  Ui  all  roapecta, 
!h  Imding  aonw 
it  nippoan  her  a 
M  to  much  dia- 
I  h«r.    Th«  wind 
I  (krourabifl,  Mr. 
■  (br  the  attack, 
lea,  and  that  the 
y  on  board  the 
:  a  boat  and  eight 
irdera  of  Mr.  An- 
•cement  iocfeaaed 
ity-two,  all  told, 
ecatur  were  clear 
carried,  then  the 
ition  of  the  party 
Mr.  Deoatur,  with 
la  to  keep  poaaea- 
Hh  Meaan.  Lawa 
to  the  berth-deck 
rith  Mr.  Davia  and 
ad  aleerage;   Mr. 
cockpit  and  after 
and  aurseon,  and 
to  Mr.  Ixard  waa 
ihe  be  needed  i  and 
lo  aeoure  all  boata 
leople  flron  twiah 


ming  aahora,  with  dinwtiitna,  however,  to  board  aa  aoon  aa  (he 
Ar«(  duty  waa  performwl. 

Pir<i-4rnM  warn  to  be  tiawl  only  in  the  laat  ealremity,  ami 
the  fir»t  ol>j«Nl  of  nvery  ono  wm  to  tl««r  thn  ijpprf.«J«K:k  nud 
gufl-dw-l  ol  ib«i  nnwny .  I'hn  wauhword  waa  "  rhiladelphta." 
TKaae  arrniignmenla  wrm  tiUin  nml  iu<li(-ioua. 

Aa  the  kfftch  draw  in  with  the  laiiii,  th«  ship  became  viaible. 
Bhe  lay  not  quite  a  mile  within  the  entramw,  riding  to  the 
wind,  ami  abrraurt  of  th«i  town.  Ilor  f«n»-maat  which  hail 
been  cut  away  whil«  "h*!  waa  on  the  mnf,  had  *  yet  been 
replaced,  her  main  and  mi»WMi-t«n>.ma«la  were  houatMl,  and 
her  lower  yarda  were  on  the  gunwaii**.  Her  lower  ataiiding 
rigging,  however,  waa  In  ita  place,  and,  aa  waa  ahortlv  after- 
wanU  Mcmrtained,  her  gun*  were  loaded  and  ■hotted.  Juat 
within  h«tr,  lay  two  wrwira,  with  a  f«w  gun-boaU,  and  a  gal- 
ley or  two. 

It  waa  a  mild  evening  for  the  aeaaon,  and  the  «m  and  hay 
w«r«  amooth  rj  in  aummorj  aa  unlike  aa  poaaible  lo  the  aame 
place  a  Aw  day*  provioualy,  when  the  two  veaaela  had  been 
driven  fn>m  the  cntnrpriae  by  a  tempeat.  Perceiving  that  h« 
waa  likely  to  get  in  Uw  noon,  wh^n  abiwit  five  niilea  from  the 
rocka,  Mr.  Decatur  ordortxl  buckeU  and  other  dniK»  to  bo  towed 
aatem,  in  order  to  leaaen  iho  way  of  the  ketch,  without  •hort- 
ening  aail,  aa  the  latter  eipedient  would  have  been  aeen  from 
the  port,  and  muat  have  awakened  auapicion.  In  the  mean 
time  thb  wind  gradually  fell,  until  it  became  ao  light  aa  to  leave 
*the  ketch  but  about  two  knoU'  way  on  hor,  when  the  draga 

About  10  o'clock  the  Intrepid  reached  tho  eaatem  entrance 
of  the  bay,  or  the  paaaage  between  the  rocka  and  the  ahoal. 
The  wind  waa  oearlv  eaat,  and,  aa  she  steered  directly  for  the 
frigate,  it  waa  w«ll  abaft  the  beam.  There  waa  a  younif  moon, 
and  aa  Iheae  bold  advenlurera  were  alowly  advancing  into  the 
hoatile  port,  all  around  them  waa  tranquil  and  apparently  with- 
out dialruat  For  near  an  hour  thoy  #*re  alealing  alowly 
along,  the  air  mdually  fkiling,  until  their  motion  became 
acaixMly  peroeptible.  .....  .     . 

Moat  of  the  oAoars  and  meo  of  the  ketch  had  been  ordered 
to  lie  on  the  deck,  where  they  were  concealed  by  low  bulwarka, 
or  WMther-boarda,  and  by  the  diflferent  objecta  that  belong  to 
•  tommI.  Aa  it  i*  the  practice  of  thoae  seaa,  to  carry  nuy 
men  even  in  the  annalleat  craft,  tlie  appearaooe  of  ten  or  twrtwi 
would  excits  no  alarm,  and  Ihia  number  waa  viaihie.    Tht 


180 


NAVAL    HIBTOET. 


[1804. 


commanding  tfficcr,  himself,  rtood  near  the  pilo,  M..  Catola. 
M?  who  WM  to  act  as  interpreter.  The  auarter-master  at  tto 
to  mrios  ordered  to  stand '^directly  for  tke  fnpte's  bows,  rt 
S  the  intention  to  lay  the  ship  aboard  in  that  place,  as  the 
Llf  of  attack  which  would  least  expose  the  as«ulanta  to  her 

^'xhe  Intrepid  was  still  at  a  considerable  diMuice  from  tlw 
Phila^lphiaf  when  the  latter  hailed.    The  pilot  "P-wered  ^J* 
[he  ketch  be  onged  to  Malta,  and  was  on  a  trading  voyage  j 
ISat X  hS  b^  nearly  wrecked,  and  had  lort  ber  anchor, 
in  the  late  gale,  and  that  her  commander  wished  to  nde  by  the 
frigaSs  durifg  the  night.    This  conversation  la^ed  some  time. 
MrfSeStur^instrucSng  the  pilot  to  tell  the  frigate's  peopte 
with  what  he  was  laden,  in  order  to  amuse  them,  and  the  In- 
twpid  gradually  drew  aearer,  until  there  was  every  prospect 
of  her  ronning  foul  of  the  Ph"adelphia,  m  a  minute  or  two, 
«id  atX  ylry  apot  contemplated.    B.:t  tJ.e  wind  sudden  y 
Sift  A,  Imd  took  thTketch  atack.    The  inrtant  the  «,utheriy 
putf  struck  liCT,  her  he-d  f«U  off,  aad  sue  gC.  a  «^^™;^,'^« 
the  ship,  at  the  same  momen^  tending  to  the  new  cun^nt  of 
ail.    the  efiect  of  this  unexpected  change  ''«■  t«,.»»™«  »J® 
ketch  directly  under  the  frifjate's  broad^d^  at  tl»  distonoe  ol 
about  fonv  yards,  where  she  lay  periteUy  necalmed.  or,  if 
any  thing,'  d^ftins  slowly  artem,  eipowd  to  nearly  every  one 
of  the  Philadelphm's  larboard  guns. 

Not  the  smallest  suspicwn  appeaiB  tc  have  been  j*  jea 
on  board  the  frigate,  though  several  of  Mr  people  we  .ook- 
ins  over  the  rails,  and  notwithstaadinij  the  nw""'^"' -ff 
ocSipletely  were  the  Turks  decdved,  that  they  lo''«'f  J^'- 
andUt  it  witha  fast.  Some  of  the  ketch's  men,  m  the.niean 
time,  had  got  Mito  her  boat,  and  had  mn  a  line  to  lh«  fnmte  s 
fore^hainJ.  As  they  returned,  they  met  the  frigates  boa^ 
took  the  fast  it  brouflht,  which  camo  f«>^/J>«j£«' P?'*.  ™  .Jj! 
•hio,  and  passed  it  Into  their  own  vessel.  These  fas»«  y/cre 
put  into  thehahda  of  the  men,  as  they 'ay  on  th^  ketdis 
Seek,  and  they  t^egan  cautiously  to  breast  the  Intrepid  alo^ 
side  of  the  Philadelphia,  without  nsmg.  As  soon  uu  the  latter 
got  iwar  enough  lo  the  ship,  the  Turks  di«r«M»d  her  anchor., 
?nd  thay  sternly  ordered  the  k^tch  to  keep  off,  as  she  had  de- 
ceived  tbem;  preparing,  at  the  san«  ^"^^J'^.'fJ^.^, 
AM  thin  passed  in  a  moment,  when  the  cry  of  "  Amenkano. 

•  N«w  a  •siliBg-iBMlw  la  the  v"rj> 


L 


mMH^ 


mummb 


iMMtwiiil 


^  M..  Catala* 
•master  at  the 
late's  bows,  it 
place,  as  the 
lailants  to  her 

tnce  from  the 
answered  that 
d'ng  voyage} 
it  her  anchor* 
I  to  ride  by  the 
led  some  time, 
(igate's  people 
m,  and  tiie  In< 
every  prospect 
linute  or  two, 
wind  suddenly 
t  the  southerly 
a  steirn-boBrd ; 
kew  current  of 
IS  to  bring  the 
;he  distance  of 
walmed,  or,  if 
arly  every  one 

een  ^"         -led 

9pl6  we  -    iOok- 

nooniigat.    Sc 

lowered  a  boat, 

en,  in  the  mean 

to  1Kb  frigate's 

frigate's  boat, 

ifter  part  of  the 

liese  fasis  wore 

on  the  ketch'a 

Intrepid  along- 

wn  uu  the  latter 

!ed  her  andiors, 

•8  she  had  de- 

»  cut  tin  fasts. 

•*  Amerikanoe" 


1804.] 


NATAL    HI8TORT. 


181 


was  heard  in  the  ship.  The  people  of  the  Intrepid,  by  a  strong 
pull,  brought  their  vessel  alongside  of  the  frigate,  where  she 
was  secured,  quick  as  thought.  Up  to  this  moment,  not  a 
whisper  had  betrayed  the  presence  of  the  men  concealed. 
The  instructions  had  been  positive  to  keep  (juiet  until  com- 
manded to  show  themselves ;  and  no  precipitation,  even  in  that 
trying  moment,  deranged  the  plan. 

Lieutenant  Commandant  Decatur  was  standing  ready  for  a 
spring,  with  Messrs.  Iaws  and  Morris  auite  near  him.  As 
soon  as  close  enough,  he  jum|>ed  at  the  frigate's  chain-plates, 
and  while  clinging  to  the  ship  himself,  he  gave  the  order  to 
board.  The  two  midshipmen  wore  at  his  side,  and  all  the  offi- 
cers and  snen  of  the  Intrepid  arose  and  folk>wed.  The  three 
gentlomen  named  were  in  the  chains  together,  and  Lieutenant 
Commandant  Decatur  and  Mr.  Morris  sprang  at  the  rail  above 
them,  while  Mr.  Laws  dashed  at  a  port.  To  the  latter  would 
have  belonged  the  honour  of  having  been  first  in  this  gallant 
assault,  but  wearing  a  boarding-belt,  his  pistols  were  caught 
between  the  gun  and  the  side  of  the  port.  Mr.  Decatur's  foot 
slipped  in  springing,  and  Mr.  Charles  Morris  first  stood  upon 
the  quarter-deck  of  the  Philadelphia.  In  an  instant.  Lieu- 
tenant Commandant  Decatur  and  Mr.  Laws  were  at  his  side, 
while  heads  and  bodies  appMred  coming  over  the  rail,  and 
through  the  ports  in  all  directions. 

The  surprise  appears  to  have  been  as  perfect,  as  the  assault 
was  rapid  and  tamest.  Most  of  the  Turks  on  deck  crowded 
forward,  and  all  ran  over  to  the  starboard-side,  as  their  ene- 
mies poitred  in  on  the  larboard.  A  few  were  aft,  but  as  soon 
as  charaed,  they  leaped  into  the  sea.  Indeed,  the  constant 
plunges  into  the  water,  gave  the  assailants  the  assurance  that 
their  enemies  were  fhst  lessening  in  numben  bv  flight.  It 
took  but  a  minute  or  two  to  clear  the  spar-deck,  though  there 
was  more  of  a  struggle  below.  Still,  so  admirably  mana^ 
was  the  attack,  and  so  complete  the  surprise,  that  the  resist- 
ance was  trifling.  In  less  than  ten  minutes  Mr.  Decatur  was 
on  the  quarter-deck  again,  in  undisturbed  possession  of  his 
priae. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  gallant  ofltoer  now  lelt  bit- 
ter regrets  that  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  brin^  away  the  ship 
he  had  so  noUy  repoveied.  Not  onl^  were  his  orders  on  this 
point  peremptory,  however,  but  the  fhoale  had  not  a  sul  bent, 
Dor  a  yard  crossed,  and  she  wantedf  her  foremast.  It  was 
16 


/ 


Bl«lrf».WIIIIIW 


iMMnHlilWIi 


182 


NAT/L    HI8T0»T. 


am. 


next  to  imponsihle,  therefore,  to  remove  her,  and  the  command 
was  given  to  pass  up  the  combustibles  from  the  ketch. 

The  duty  of  setting  fire  to  the  prize,  appears  to  have  been 
executed  with  as  much  promptitude  and  order,  as  every  other 
part  of  the  service.  The  officers  distributed  themselves, 
agreeably  to  the  previous  instructions,  and  the  men  soon  ap- 
peared with  the  necessary  means.  Each  party  acted  by  itself, 
and  as  it  got  ready.  So  rapid  were  thoy  all  m  their  move- 
mento,  that  the  men  with  combustibles  had  scarcely  time  to 
set  as  low  as  the  cock-pit  and  after-store-rooms,  before  the 
fires  were  lighted  over  their  heads.  When  the  officer  entrusted 
with  the  duty  last  mentioned  had  got  through,  he  found  the 
after-hatches  filled  with  smoke,  from  the  fire  in  the  ward-room 
and  steerage,  and  he  was  obliged  to  nwke  his  escape  by  the 
forward  ladders. 

The  Americans  were  in  the  ship  from  twenty  to  twenty-five 
minutes,  and  they  were  literally  driven  out  of  her  by  the 
flames.    The  vessel  had  got  to  be  so  dry  in  that  low  latitude, 
that  she  burnt  like  pine ;  and  the  combustibles  had  been  as 
judiciously  prepared,  as  they  were  steadily  used.    The  last 
party  up,  were  the  people  who  had  been  in  the  store-rooms, 
wd  when  they  reached  the  deck,  thejr  found  most  of  their 
companions  already  in  the  Intrepid.    Joining  them,  and  ascer- 
taining that  all  was  ready,  the  order  was  given  to  cast  off. 
Notwithstanding  the  daring  character  of  the  enterprise  in  gene- 
ral, Mr.  Decatur  and  his  party  now  ran  the  greatest  risk  they 
had  incurred  that  night.    So  fierce  had  the  conflagration  al- 
ready become,  that  the  flames  began  to  po      out  of  the  ports, 
and  the  head-fast  having  been  cast  off,  the  ketch  fell  astern, 
with  her  jigger  flapping  against  the  quarter-aallery,  and  her 
boom  foul.    The  fire  showed  itself  in  the  window  at  this  criti- 
cal moment ;  and  beneath,  was  all  the  ammunition  of  the 
party,  covered  with  a  tarpaulin.    To  increase  the  risk,  the 
stem-iast  was  jammed.    By  using  swords,  however,  for  there 
wan  not  time  to  look  for  an  axe,  the  hawser  was  cut,  and  the 
Intrepid  was  extricated  from  the  most  imminent  danger,  by  a 
vigorous  shove.    As  she  swung  clear  of  the  frigate,  the  flames 
reached  the  rigging,  up  which  they  went  hissing,  like  a  rocket, 
tho  tar  having  oooed  from  the  ropes,  which  bad  neen  saturated 
with  that  inflammable  matter.    Matches  could  not  have  kindled 
with  greater  quickness. 

The  sweeps  were  now  manned.    Up  to  this  moment,  every 
thing  had  been  done  earnestly,  though  without  noiae,  but  at 


I 


■Mte 


tMttSimm 


[1804 

the  command 
etch. 

to  have  been 
s  every  other 
1  themselves, 
Tien  80on  ap> 
cted  by  itself, 
n  their  move- 
ircely  time  to 
ns,  before  the 
Rcer  entrusted 
he  found  the 
he  ward-room 
escape  by  the 

to  twenty-five 
of  her  by  the 
t  low  latitude, 
B  had  been  as 
ed.  The  last 
>  store-rooms, 
most  of  their 
sm,  and  ascer- 
en  to  cast  off. 
rprise  in  gene- 
itest  risk  ther 
nflagration  at- 
t  of  the  ports, 
ch  fell  astern, 
dlery,  and  her 
>w  at  this  criti- 
unition  of  the 
9  the  risk,  the 
■ever,  for  there 
IS  cut,  and  the 
it  danger,  by  a 
pte,  the  flames 
:,  like  a  rocket, 
oeen  saturated 
ot  have  kindled 

moment,  every 
xt  noiae,  but  aa 


1804.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


183 


soon  as  they  felt  that  they  had  got  command  of  their  ketch 
again,  and  by  two  or  three  vigorous  strokes  had  sent  her  away, 
from  the  frigate,  the  people  of  the  Intrepid  ceased  rowing,  and 
as  one  man,  they  gave  three  cheers  for  victory.  This  appeared 
to  arouse  the  Turks  from  their  stupor ;  for  the  cry  had  hardly 
ended,  when  the  batteries,  the  two  corsairs,  and  the  galley, 
poured  in  their  fire.  The  men  laid  hold  of  the  sweeps  arain, 
of  which  the  Intrepid  had  eight  of  a  side,  and  favoured  by  a 
light  air,  they  went  rapidlv  down  the  harbour. 

The  spectacle  that  followed,  is  described  as  having  been 
both  beautifiil  and  sublime.  The  entire  bay  was  illuminated 
bv  the  conflagration,  the  roar  of  cannon  was  constant,  and 
I'ripoli  was  in  a  clamour.  The  appearance  of  the  ship  was, 
in  the  highest  degree,  magnificent ;  and,  to  add  to  the  efiect, 
as  her  suns  heated,  they  began  to  ^  off.  Owing  to  the  shift 
of  wind,  and  the  pocition  into  which  she  had  tended,  she,  in 
some  measure,  returned  the  enemy's  fire,  as  one  of  her  broad- 
sides was  discharged  in  the  direction  of  the  town,  and  the 
other  towards  Fort  English.  The  most  singular  efl^t  of  this 
conflagration  was  on  board  the  ship,  where  the  flames  bavins 
run  up  the  rigging  and  mnsts,  collected  under  the  tqw,  and  fell 
over,  giving  the  whole  the  appearance  of  glowing  columns  and 
fiery  capitals. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  the  situation  of  the  ketch 
would  still  have  been  thousht  sufficiently  perilous,  but  after  the 
exploit  they  had  just  performed,  her  people,  elated  with  suc- 
cess, remrded  all  that  was  now  passing  as  a  triumphal  spec- 
tacle. The  shot  constantly  cast  the  spray  around  them,  or 
were  whistling  over  their  heads ;  but  the  only  sensation  they 
produced,  was  by  calling  attention  to  the  brilliant  J€t*  i'eau 
that  they  occasioned  as  they  bounded  along  the  water.  But 
one  struck  the  Intrepid,  although  she  was  within  half  a  mile  of 
many  of  the  heaviest  guns  lor  some  time,  and  that  passed 
through  her  top-gallant-sail. 

With  sixteen  sweeps,  and  eighty  men  elated  with  success, 
Mr.  Decatur  was  enabled  to  drive  the  little  Intrepid  ahead  with 
a  vekicity  that  rendered  towing  useless.  Near  the  harbour's 
mouth,  he  met  the  Siren's  boats,  sent  to  cover  his  retreat,  but 
their  services  were  scarcely  necessary.  As  soon  as  the  ketch 
was  out  of  danger,  he  got  into  one,  and  pulled  aboard  the  brig, 
to  report  to  Lieutenant  Commandant  Stewart,  the  remit  of  h» 
undntaking. 
The  Siien  had  got  into  the  offing  some  time  after  the  Intre- 


imii 


mmm 


HCi 


184 


NATAL    BISTORT. 


[1804. 


!)id,  ag't'eeably  to  arrangement,  and  anchored  about  throe  mile* 
iront  the  rocks.  Here  she  hoisted  out  the  launch  and  a  cutter, 
manned  and  armed  them,  and  sent  them  in,  under  Mr.  Cald- 
well, her  first  lieutenant.  Soon  after  the  brig  wdghed,  and 
the  wind  having  entirely  failed  outside,  she  Mwept  into  eight 
fi^thoms  water,  and  anchored  again,  to  cover  the  retreat,  should 
the  enemy  attempt  to  board  the  Intrepid,  with  his  gun-boatt. 
It  will  readily  be  supposed  that  it  was  an  anxious  moment,  and 
as  the  moon  rose,  all  eyes  were  on  the  frigate.  After  waiting 
in  intense  expectation  near  an  hour,  a  rocket  went  up  from  the 
Philadelphia.  It  was  the  signal  of  possession,  and  Mr.  Stew* 
art  ran  below  to  get  another  for  the  answer.  He  was  g<Mie 
only  a  moment,  out  when  he  returned,  the  fire  was  seen 
shining  through  the  frigate's  ports,  and  in  a  few  more  minutes, 
the  flames  were  rushing  up  her  rigging,  as  if  a  train  had  been 
touched.  Then  foUoweid  the  cannonade,  and  the  dashing  of 
sweeps,  with  the  approach  of  the  ketch.  .  Presently  a  bnat  was 
seen  coming  alongside,  and  a  man,  in  a  sailor's  jacket,  sprang 
over  the  gangway  of  the  brig.  It  was  Decatur,  to  announce 
his  victory  I 

The  ketch  and  brig  lay  near  each  other,  for  about  an  hour, 
when  a  strong  and  favourAle  wind  arose,  and  they  made  sail 
for  Syracuse,  which  port  they  reached  on  the  19th.    Here  the 

Sirty'  was  received  with  salutes  and  congratulations,  by  the 
icilians,  who  were  also  at  war  with  Tripoli,  as  well  as  by 
their  own  countrymen. 

The  success  of  thb  gallant  exploit  laid  the  foundation  of  Om 
name  which  Mr.  Decatur  subsequently  acquired  in  the  navy. 
The  country  generally  applauded  the  feat ;  and  the  command* 
ing  officer  rvas  raised  from  the  station  of  a  lieutenant  to  that 
of  a  captain.  Moat  of  the  midshipmen  engaged,  were  also  pro< 
moted,  and  Lieutenant  Commandant  Decatur  received  a  sword. 
The  Philadelphia  was  a  frigate  of  the  class  that  the  Elnglish 
termed  a  thirty-eight,  previously  to  the  war  of  1612.  Her 
armament  conusted  of  26  eighteens,  on  her  gun  deck,  and  of 
16  carronades  and  chase  guns,  above ;  or  of  44  guna  in  the 
whole.  No  correct  estimate  has  probably  ever  been  made  of 
the  number  of  men  in  her,  when  she  was  recaptured.  Twenty 
were  reported  to  have  been  kiUed,  and  one  boat  loaded  with 
Turks  IS  said  to  have  escaped ;  many  also  swam  ashore,  or  to 
the  nearest  cruisers.  Some,  no  doubt,  secreted  themselves  be> 
low,  of  whom  the  greater  part  must  have  perished  in  the  ship, 
as  the  party  that  aet  fire  to  the  after-store-rooms  had  difficidty 


"M>l  Ml  III  U!  I  l«Jliii.iuWJilMl.»UJWIl>i 


■iMMlMliNM 


HHtfiMlMMMU 


[1804. 

ut  throe  milet 
and  a  cuUer, 
Icr  Mr.  Cald. 
w«;ighed,  and 
pt  into  eight 
etreat,  should 
lit  gun-boata. 
I  moment,  and 
After  waiting 
It  up  from  the 
nd  Mr.  Stew- 
He  was  g<»ie 
lire  was  seen 
nore  minutes, 
rain  had  been 
le  dashing  of 
tly  a  boat  was 
acket,  sprang 
,  to  announce 

bout  an  hour, 
ley  made  sail 
th.  Here  the 
itions,  by  the 
IS  well  as  by 

ndationoffhe 
in  the  navy, 
he  command- 
enant  to  that 
irere  also  pro- 
ived  a  sword. 
it  the  Engluh 
'  1812.  Her 
deck,  and  of 
4  guns  in  the 
been  made  of 
«d.  Twenty 
t  loaded  with 
1  ashore,  or  to 
hemselves  be- 
!d  in  the  ship, 
haddifficidty 


1804.] 


NAVAL    HISTORT. 


165 


in  cscapinB  from  the  flames.  But  one  prisoner  was  made,  a 
wounded  Turk,  who  took  refuge  in  the  ketch.  On  the  part  of 
the  Americans  but  a  single  man  wae  hurt. 

In  whatever  light  we  regard  this  exploit,  it  extorts  our  admi- 
ration and  praise ;  the  boldness  in  the  conception  of  the  enter- 
prise, being  even  surpassed  by  the  perfect  manner  in  which  all 
Its  parts  wore  executed.  Nothing  appears  to  have  been  want- 
inc,  in  a  military  point  of  view ;  nothing  was  deranged ;  no- 
thmg  defeated.  The  hour  was  well  choMn,  and  no  doubt  it 
was  a  chief  reason  why  the  corsairs,  gun-boats,  and  batteries, 
were,  in  the  first  place,  so  slow  in  commencing  their  fira,  and 
su  uncertain  in  their  aim  when  they  did  open  on  the  Ameri- 
cans. In  appreciating  the  daring  of  the  attempt,  we  have  only 
to  consider  what  might  have  been  the  consequences  had  the 
assault  on  the  frigate  been  repubied.  Directly  under  her  guns, 
with  a  harbour  filled  with  light  cruisers,  gun^boats,  and  gal- 
leys, and  surrounded  by  forts  and  batteries,  the  inevitable  de- 
struction of  all  in  the  Intrepid  must  have  followed.  These 
were  dangers  that  cool  steadiness  and  entire  self-possession, 
aided  by  perfect  discipline,  could  alone  avert.  In  the  service, 
the  enterprise  has  ever  been  regarded  as  one  of  its  most  brilliant 
achievements ;  and  to  this  day,  it  is  deemed  a  high  honour 
to  have  been  one  among  the  Intrepid's  crew.  The  effisct  on 
the  squadron  then  abroad  can  scarcely  be  appreciated ;  as  its 
seamen  began  to  consider  themselves  invincible,  if  not  invul- 
nerable, and  were  ready  for  any  service  in  which  men  could 
be  employed. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Thits  opened  the  year  1804.  The  great  distance,  however, 
that  lav  between  the  seat  of  war  and  the  country^  as  well  as 
thu  infrequency  of  direct  communications,  prevented  the  gov- 
es^mtaai  at  home,  from  getting  early  information  of  what  was 
K  '.iDg  m  the  Mediterranean.  As  a  consequence,  at  the  very 
inojient  when  Comtnodore  Preble  was  beginning  to  show  that 
ener|^  for  which  he  was  so  remarkable,  the  d^rtment  was 
making  {nreparatioiis  for  superseding  him  in  the  command  i  not 
16  • 


mu 


liiiiiiiiiliM 


^:^J;Ul£irk/£( 


Hiii 


186 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


[iir4 


from  diiMtisfaction,  but,  as  was  then  believed,  from  necessity. 
There  were  but  three  cnptains  in  the  navy  junior  to  Preble,  and 
one  of  these  was  a  captive  in  Tripoli.  The  loss  of  the  Phila- 
delphia had  rendered  ;.  indispensable  to  send  out  another  fri- 
gate, at  leas; ;  and  the  edministration  had  now  begun  to  take  so 
serious  a  view  of  the  state  of  the  relations  of  the  country  with 
all  the  Barbary  powers,  as  to  see  the  importance  of  exhibiting 
A  force  that  should  look  down  any  further  attempts  on  a  trade, 
which,  in  consequence  of  the  general  war  that  prevailed  in 
Europ,  was  beginning  to  whiten  the  seas  6f  the  old  world 
with  Ai  lerican  canvass.  The  Emperor  of  Morocco,  who  was 
said  to  be  a  relative  of  tho  Bashaw  of  Tripoli,  was  distrusted 
in  particular,  and  many  little  occurrences  had  served  to  prove 
the  interest  that  the  former  felt  in  the  affairs  of  the  latter. 

The  ships  that  it  was  now  decided  to  send  into  the  Mediter- 
ranean, were  the  President  44,  Congress  88,  Constellation  88, 
and  Essex  82.  They  were  put  in  commission  early  in  the 
season^  and  as  soon  as  the  choice  was  made,  Comr.iodore  Pre- 
ble was  apprised  of  it,  and  of  the  necessity  that  existed  of  send- 
ing  out  two  officers  who  were  his  seniors  in  rank.  About  the 
same  time,  Mr.  Decatur  was  made  a  captain,  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Philadelphia,  and  the  service  received  an  important 
impulse  in  the  revival  of  the  rank  of  masters  and  command- 
ers, which  had  been  dropped  altogether,  under  the  reduction 
law  of  1801.  ^      ^ 

The  Siren  and  Intrepid  returned  to  Syracuse,  after  the  suc- 
cessful attempt  on  the  Philadelphia,  on  the  19th  of  February 
of  this  year.  On  the  2d  of  Mareh,  Comnjodore  Preble,  who 
had  so  divided  his  force  as  lo  keep  some  of  the  small  vessels  off 
Tripoli  blockading,  proceeded  to  Malta,  and  on  his  return,  he 
sailed  again,  on  the  21st,  for  the  station  off  the  enemy's  port. 
The  Siren  16,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Stewart,  and  Nautilus 
12,  Lieutenant  Commandaiat  Somers,  were  the  blockading  ves- 
sels at  this  time,  and,  early  one  morning,  while  coming  from 
the' eastward  to  recover  lest  ground,  a  vessel  witli  the  appear- 
ance  of  a  brig  of  war,  was  seen  lying-to  in  tho  offing.  As  soon 
as  he  made  the  Americans,  the  stranger  endeavoured  to  beat 
hack  into  the  harbour  again,  out  of  which  he  had  lately  come, 
but,  the  Nautilus  being  sent  c\<m  in  to  employ  the  gun-boats, 
should  they  attempt  to  come  out,  the  Siren  cut  hiir>  off  from  the 
port,  and  soon  got  alongside.  This  vessel  proved  to  be  tho 
Transfer,  a  privateer  out  of  Malta,  with  a  Bntish  commission, 
and  she  had  an  armament  of  16  carronades,  and  a  crew  of  80 


I 


*ftmii0t^ 


1804.] 


NAVAL     HIBTORT 


197 


)in  necflMity. 
to  Preble,  and 
of  tho  Phils- 
It  another  fri- 
gun  to  take  ao 

country  with 
of  exhibiting 
its  on  a  triule, 
,  prevailed  in 
tho  old  world 
ceo,  who  waa 
iitraa  diatrunted 
jfved  to  prove 
he  latter. 
D  tho  Mediter* 
nstcllation  88, 
I  early  in  the 
nir.K>dore  Pre- 
nistedofgend- 
k.  About  the 
it  the  deatruo 
I  an  important 
ind  command- 

the  reduction 

,  after  the  sue* 
|»  of  February 
re  Preble,  who 
nail  vesaela  oflT 

his  return,  he 
I  enemy's  port. 
,  and  Nautilus 
tlockading  ves- 
a  coming  from 
itii  the  appear- 
flSng.  As  soon 
Youred  to  beat 
id  lately  come, 

the  gun-boats, 
im  off  from  the 
oved  to  be  tho 
sh  commission, 
id  a  crew  of  80 


men.  When  the  Siren  ran  alongside,  tho  Tionsfcr  s  people 
were  at  quarters ;  but,  no  resistance  being  ottcmptetl,  she  waa 
capturtid  for  n  violation  of  tho  blockade.  Subsequent  informa- 
tion  induced  Commodore  Preble  to  Iwlicve  that  she  belonged,  in 
fact,  to  tho  Bushaw  of  Tripoli,  and  that  the  commisnion  under 
which  she  sailed  was  obtamcd  by  means  of  tlieTriplitan  con- 
sul in  Malta,  who  waa  a  native  of  that  island,  and  for  whoae 
appearance  on  board  the  brig  was  actually  wailing  wlien  taken. 
A»  the  Transfer  had  been  an  English  gun-brig,  and  waa 
equipped  Tor  war.  Commodore  Preble  sent  her  to  Syracuse, 
where  she  was  appraised,  manned,  and  taken  into  tho  service 
for  tho  time  being.  She  was  called  the  Scourge,  and  the  com- 
mand of  her  was  given  to  Lieutenant  Commandant  Dent,  the 
acting  coptain  of  tho  Constitution. 

Remaining  off  Tripoli  a  few  days,  Commodore  Preble  waa 
next  actively  employed  in  running  from  port  to  port,  in  order 
to  look  into  the  affairs  of  the  different  regencies,  to  commura- 
cate  with  the  captives  in  Tripoli,  and  to  make  his  arrangementa 
for  pursuing  a  warfare  better  suited  to  bringing  the  bashaw  to 
terms.  The  king  of  the  Two  Sicilies  being  at  war  with  Tri- 
poli, also,  in  furtherance  of  the  latter  duty,  the  Constitution 
went  to  Naples,  in  order  to  obtain  some  aasistance  in  executmg 
these  projects.  Here  an  order  for  two  bomb-vessels  and  six 
gun-boata  was  obtained,  with  the  necessary  equipments ;  and 
Cktmmodore  Preblo  sailed  for  Messina,  where  the  different  craft 
lay.  From  this  time  until  the  middle  of  July,  he  waa  as  ac- 
tively engaged  as  ever,  in  providing  for  the  wants  of  the  cap- 
tives, in  settling  a  serious  difficulty  with  Tunis,  and  in  preparing 
for  an  attack  on  Tripoli  ^  and  we  shall  quit  him,  for  a  moment, 
to  return  to  the  movements  before  that  place. 

In  April,  tho  Siren,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Stewart;  Ar- 
gus, Lieutenant  Commandant  Hull;  Enterprise,  Lieutenant 
Commandant  Decatur;  Vixen,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Smith, 
and  Scourge,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Dent,  composed  the 
blockading  force,  when  a  felucca  waa  seen  stealing  along 
shore,  coming  from  the  westward,  with  a  view  to  enter  the  har- 
hour  in  a  fog.  A  general  chase  ensued,  and  the  felucca  took 
refuge  behind  a  reef  of  rocks,  about  ten  miles  to  the  westward 
of  Tripoli,  where  she  was  run  upon  a  beach  of  sand.  The  Si- 
ren  now  made  a  signal  for  the  boats  to  g-  in,  in  order  to  dea- 
troy  the  enemy.  Mr.  Caldwell,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Siren, 
being  nearest  in,  went  ahead  with  the  launch  and  cutter  of  that 
brig,  while  the  other*  followed  u  the  vessels  caine  up.    As  he 


iMii 


il 


188 


NAVAL    HISTOKT. 


approarhod  llio  dlioro,  lli«  b<Mit  of  Mr.  Cniawull  got  on  ■•unkcn 
rw.k,  ttiiil  Iho  oncrny,  who  liml  iKigiin  to  i-ollixrt  in  forcn,  parti- 
cularly in  cavolry,  op<-n«Ml  a  nharp  lire  of  mu«lH!try,  H«3vcral 
of  the  AmoriauiH  wftro  kiliwland  woundtid,  and  perceiving  that 
the  enemy  wero  both  tiK»  atronu  and  tfio  well  fKNited  to  Ifl  at- 
ta«ke«l  by  so  feeble  a  forc-e,  Mr.  (Jaldwell  returned,  dirwting 
Ihc!  dilfert^nt  boatii,  aa  ho  nict  tln-m,  to  retire  al»o. 

The  Argua  and  •cIhxumth  now  obtained  jHniitionii  where  they 
could  throw  their  ahot  into  the  felucca,  which  waa  afxm  ren- 
dered unaeaworthy.  While  thia  waa  doinff,  tho  Biren  ran 
down,  opened  a  ravino  in  which  tho  Turka  were  poetcd,  and 
dialodgfxl  them  by  a  amart  diachargu  of  grape,  Aflerwarda,  a 
broadaido  or  two  worn  thrown  in  among  n  atronf;  Ixxly  r>f  cav- 
alry, which  had  tlie  ofTect  of  rendering  thc-rn  cniilious  in  their 
operations  on  tho  coast.  This  little  affiiir  illuMtratea  the  nature 
of  tho  ordinary  warfare  that  waa  then  ojirricd  on,  tho  Tripoli- 
tana  aending  out  bodiea  of  soldiera  to  cover  aity  vessel  that  was 
expected  with  supplies.  On  this  occaaion,  the  felucca  waa  said 
to  bo  loaded  witn  salt,  an  article  that  then  bore  an  enormous 
price  in  Tripoli. 

It  was  July  the  'ilst,  1804,  when  Commodore  Preble  was 
able  to  sail  from  Malta,  with  all  the  force  he  had  collected,  to 
join  the  vosecls  cruising  off  Tripoli.  The  blockade  had  been 
kept  up  with  vigour  for  some  months,  and  the  Commodore  felt 
that  the  season  had  now  arrived  for  more  active  operations. 
He  had  with  him  the  Constitution,  Bnterpriae,  Nautilus,  the 
two  bomb-vessels,  and  the  six  gun-boats.  The  bomb-vessels 
wen  of  only  thirty  tons  measurement,  and  carried  a  thirteen' 
inch  mortar  each.  In  scarcely  any  respect  were  they  suited 
for  the  duty  that  waa  expected  of  them.  The  gun-boats  were 
liule  better,  being  shallow,  unaeaworthy  craft,  of  about  twenty- 
five  tons  burthen,  in  which  long  iron  twenty-fours  had  been 
mounted.  Each  boat  had  one  gun,  and  thirty-five  men ;  the 
latter,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  Neapolitans,  being  taken 
from  the  different  vessels  of  the  squadron.  The  Tnpoiilaa 
gun-boats,  which  have  already  been  described,  were  altoge. 
ther  superior,  and  the  duty  should  have  been  exactly  reversed, 
in  order  to  suit  the  qualities  of  the  respective  craft ;  the  boats 
of  Tripoli  having  been  built  to  go  cm  the  coast,  while  those 
posscMMed  by  the  Americans  wera  intended  solely  for  harbour 
defence.  In  addition  to  their  other  bad  qualities,  these  Neapo- 
litan boats  were  found  neither  to  aail  nor  to  row  even  tolerably 
well.    It  was  necessary  to  tow  them,  by  larger  vesMls,  tho 


IS04.1 


NATAL   HIITOH  V. 


18U 


ot  on  ■  lunkon 
in  forc«,  parti, 
itry.  H«jv(nrnl 
wrceiving  that 
■ted  to  bo  at* 
rncd,  diracting 

trtH  where  ihoy 
wiM  •rxm  rcn* 
tho  Siren  ran 
iru  potted,  and 
Aflorwarda,  a 
U  \ttx\y  f)f  p«v- 
iitiouM  in  their 
otca  the  nnturo 
in,  tho  Tri|x>li- 
voaaol  that  was 
tluccn  wns  naid 
an  cnormoua 

re  Preble  waa 
id  collected,  to 
ikade  had  been 
bmnnodora  felt 
ivo  operations. 
,  Nautilus,  the 
)  bomb-veasela 
ried  a  thirteen, 
ere  they  suited 
nin-boats  were 
r  about  twenty- 
burs  had  be^n 
•five  men ;  the 
M,  beins  taken 
rhe  Tnpolilan 
j,  were  altoge> 
Lactly  reversed, 
raft ;  the  boats 
ist,  while  those 
ily  for  harbour 
s,  these  Neapo* 
reventderably 
prvesnts,  tlw 


monvnt  they  Rot  inlu  nniRh  watrr;  and  when  it  bl«w  Iwavily, 
there  wan  always. tanner  or.iniKKi"«  «»w">  "'|''*:'- ,  '"  *'•'''';"' 
to  thi«  force, (Jomrwidoro  I'n.ble  had  ohtaimd  m«  l<>n«  tw.mly. 
six  pounders  for  tho  uppcr-dock  of  tJi.;  tJorwtiiuiion,  whicli  were 

mounted  in  the  waist.  . .   ,  . .      l  i    c  «,„ 

When  tiM)  American  commander  assembled  m  who  o  lorce 
before  Tripoli,  on  the  «6th  of  July,  IH04,  it  ««s»lod  of  tho 
Con«titutioii  44,  Commodore  I'reblo  ;  H.n.n  Ifl.  Luiutenan 
Commandant  Stewart;  Argus  16.  I.ieulenant  U,.....mndant 
Hull  5  Scourao  14,  Lieutenant  (.'ommandanl  Ltent }  vuen  14, 
Li.utenan<  r^.mmondant    Hmith;    Nautilus   IS.   Lieuta-nan 
Coininondant  .Sonars;  Knteqirise  I'i.  Licutei«nl  Commandant 
Decatur :  tlie  two  bomln vessels,  nnd  six  gun-Uiats.     in  some 
Inspects  this  was  a  well-appointwl  ft.rrxj  for  tlie  duty  reouired. 
while  in  others  it  was  lamentably  .Icfickut.     AnoOier  hoary 
ship,  in  particular,  was  wanted,  and  the  m«Mfor  b«nb««»!nK 
haJall  the  defects  that  may  be  anticipated.     The  Iwo  he.»»ja 
bri«M  hod  armamonu  of  twenty-four-pound  carronadcs;  iftc 
utiwr  brijr,  and  two  of  the  schooners,  armam.;nts  of  eighteen- 
pound  carronades}  while  the  Enterpris.,  retained  »»' ongjnal 
equipment  of  long  sixes,  in  con«»quencc  of  lier  porta  bemg 
ui^suited  to  the  new  puns.    As  the  ConsUtutwn  had  •  gun- 
deck  battery  of  thirty  W  twcnty-fours,  with  six  long  wenty- 
sixes,  and  some  ligWr  long  guns  aboYo,  it  follows  that  the 
Americans  could  bring  iwenty-two  twenty-fours  and  su  twenty- 
2S  to  bear  on  the  "lu^o  walU  of  the  town,  m  addition  to^ 
few  light  chase-guns  in  the  small  vessels,  and  the  twelve- 
poundJre  of  the  ffigate'sauarter-deck  and  forecastle.    Onthe 

Whole,  there  appears  to  foivo  been  in  the  ,?<r««>~?'  '^fi; 
eight  heavy  long  guns,  with  about  twenty  ligWr,  th^T^jW 

be^brought  to  play  on  the  batteries  "'m"]«*n«?»»'y-.^'OTl« 
theseVmuM  of  oflence,  the  bashaw  bad  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
ffuns  in  battery,  moat  of  them  quite  heavy,  and  nineteen  gun- 
boats  that,  of  themselves,  so  far  as  metal  was  concerned,  were 
iSJrlveqial  to  the  frigate.  Moored  in  the  harbour  were  jbo 
two  large  galleys,  two  schooners,  and  a  bng,  all  of  whwh 
Ze  arS^Kl  st'iongly  manned.  The  Amcn<*«  •ju^joj 
was  manned  by  one  thousand  and  sixty  persons,  all  told,  while 
the  bashaw  had  assembled  a  force  that  has  been  f^«~i- 
high  as  twentyfive  thouawid,  Arabs  and  Turks  «nc«»*d.  The 
o3y  advanteje  po..e«»d  by  the  assailante,  m  ^^r'f^l'^' 
wai  so  soon  to  fonowTwere  those  which  are  dependent  on  spirit, 
discipline,  and  system. 


190 


WATAt     M!«TO»T 


Th«  viwwU  couia  iM<t  nnchor  until  lh«  3«lh,  wJwn  thry  rtn 
in,  with  th«i  wind  at  K.  H.  K.,  and  c-anw-to,  by  •iRnal,  aJmut  a 
IcNmui)  iVoni  thn  town.  Thi«  wa«  hardlv  done,  hi»wi)vur,  bnlore 
tho  wind  cnnw  auddrnly  round  to  N.  N.  W.,  thcnoB  to  N.  N. 
K.,  and  it  began  to  blow  •Irong,  with  a  hnavv  ana  aBttini 
directly  on  ■hore.  At  «  I*.  M.,  a  BiKnal  wa«  mnd«i  for  tho  vot. 
■ela  to  weigh,  and  to  irain  an  offing.  Fortunnu^lv.  tho  wind 
continued  to  haul  to  tho  oattward,  or  thrrn  would  huvo  b««n 
great  danger  of  towing  the  guo-boata  under,  while  carryinfl 
■ail  U)  claw  off  the  land.  The  gale  continued  to  incrcaao  until 
tho  81  "t,  wlifln  it  blew  tremendou«ly.  Tho  couraea  of  the 
Constitution  wcm  blown  away,  thouuh  roofed,  and  it  would 
have  been  irnpoiwible  to  aave  the  bomb-vowwla  and  gun-lioaU, 
had  not  the  wind  hauled  ao  fkr  to  the  aouthward  an  Ui  give 
them  tho  advantage  of  a  weather  shore,  and  of  comparattvely 
■inooth  water.     Fortunately,  the  gale  ceoaed  the  next  day. 

On  the  third  of  Auguat,  1804,  tho  aquadron  ran  in  again 
and  got  within  a  league  of  tho  town,  with  a  pleannt  breeio  at 
the  eaatward.  The  wwrny't  gun-boaU  and  ^alleyi  hail  conw 
outjido  of  the  rooka,  and  wore  lying  there  in  two  diviaiona ; 
one  near  the  eaatem,  and  the  other  near  the  weatem  entrance, 
or  about  half  a  milo  apart.  At  the  oanio  time,  it  waa  aeen  that 
•11  the  batteries  were  manned,  as  if  an  attack  was  not  only 
expected,  but  invited.  .      .    «. 

At  half-paat  12,  the  Constitution  wore  with  her  head  off 
•bore,  and  showed  a  signal  for  all  vessels  to  come  within  hail. 
As  ho  came  up,  coch  commander  was  ordered  to  prepare  to 
•ttack  tho  shippinn  and  batteries.  Tho  bomb-vosaols  and  gun. 
boata  were  immediately  ntanned,  and  such  was  the  hi^h  state 
of  discipline  in  the  squadron,  that  in  one  hour,  every  thing  was 
ready  for  the  contemplated  service. 

On  this  occasion.  Commodore  Preble  mode  the  following 
distribution  of  that  oart  of  his  force,  which  was  manned  from 
the  other  vessels  of  his  squadron. 

Ono  bomb-kotch  waa  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Command- 
ant Dent,  of  the  Scourge. 

The  other  bomb-keteh  waa  commanded  by  Mr.  Robmaoil, 
first  lieutenant  of  the  Constitution. 


FirM  Di9iti<m  tfgm-hoatt. 
1.  Lieut.  Com.  Son(»er«,of  the  NoutiliM. 
3.  Lieut.  James  Decatur,  of  tlie  NoutUoa. 
•«    8.  Lieut.  Blake,  of  the  Argu*. 


No 

M 


l»il 


KATAL     IlliTOIIf. 


Ifl 


rh«n  they  na 
iKtml,  aliout  fe 
iiwovur,  b«rur« 
onco  to  N.  N. 

(111  for  Iha  voa* 
ilnly.  llw  wind 
luUi  httvr  biwn 
vhila  carryina 
I  incrooM  until 
xHiraM  of  tha 

an<l  it  would 
and  gun->MMita, 
ird  aa  Ui  giva 
comparatively 
e  next  day. 

ran  in  again 
innt  braeae  at 
llnyi  had  come 
two  divisiona ; 
•tern  entrance, 
t  waa  aeen  that 
;  waa  not  only 

I)  her  head  off 
me  within  hail. 
1  to  prepare  to 
eaaela  and  gun< 
I  the  hi^h  atate 
Bvery  thing  waa 

B  the  following 
I  manned  firom 

lant  Command- 
Mr.  Robinaon, 


Steomi  (itPtMon  of  gvn-boalt. 
Wo.  4.  Lieut.  Com.  iKnatur,  of  the  Knlerpriae. 
"     6.  Lieut.  Hainbridge,  of  the  Knterprian. 
"     fl.  Lieut.  Trippii,  of  the  Viinn. 
At  half-paat  one,  the  Con»titution  wort'  again,  and  itood 
towarda  the  town.     At  two,  the  gun-boala  wi-re  cait  tiff,  and 
forniftd  in  advance,  covered  by  the  briga  and  achoonera,  and 
half  an  hour  later,  the  aignal  waa  ihown   to  enpgo.     Th« 
attack  waa  c/jmmenced  by  the  two  »¥»mhard«,  which  U-gan  to 
throw  aholla  into  the  town.     It  waa  followed  l.v  th«  bntuini*. 
which  were  inatantly  in  a  blaze,  and  then  the  ahipping  on  both 
■idea  opened  their  fire,  within  reach  of  grape.  ^ 

The  ea*trrn,  or  nwat  weatherly  division  of  the  enemy  ■ 
gun-boata.  nine  in  numbt^r,  aa  being  loart  .unportcd,  waa  tha 
aim  of  the  American  Buii-Uiata.     Hut  the  bad  quaiiliea  of  tha 
latter  craft  were  oui*  kly  apparent,  "or,  aa  .oon  aa  Mr.  Decatur 
•leered  towarda  the  enemy,  with  an  intention  to  come  to  cloaa 
quartera,  the  diviiion  of  Mr.  Somera,  which  waa  a  little  to  laj. 
ward,  found  it  difficult  to  auilain  him.     Every  effort  waa  mad* 
by  the  latter  officer,  to  set  far  enough  to  windward  to  join  in 
tlM  attack  ;  but  Anding  it  impracticable,  he  bore  up,  and  ran 
down  alone  on  five  of  the  enemy  to  leeward,  and  engaged  them 
all  within  piatol-ahct,  throwing  ahowera  of  grape,  caniater, 
and  muaket-balla,  among  them.     In  order  to  do  thla,  aa  aoon 
•a  near  enough,  the  aweepa  were  got  out,  and  the  boat  waa 
backed  aatcrn  to  prevent  her  from  drifting  in  among  the  enemy. 
No,  8  waa  cloaing  ftat,  but  a  aianal  oT  recall*  being  ahown 
fVom  the  Conatitution,  abe  hauled  out  of  the  line  to  obey,  and 
loaing  ground,  ahe  kept  more  aloof,  firina  at  the  boata  and 
ahipping  in  the  harbour  j  while  No.  8,  Mr.  Jamea  Decatur,  waa 
enabled  to  join  the  dlviaion  to  windward.     No.  ft,  Mr.  Bain- 
bridge,  loat  her  latine-yard,  while  atill  in  tow  of  the  Siren,  but, 
though  unable  to  cloae,  ahe  continued  advancing,  keeping  up  a 
heavy  Are,  and  finally  touched  on  the  rocka.  ... 

By  theae  changea.  Lieutenant  Commandant  Decaturt  bad 
three  boata  that  daahed  forward  with  him,  though  one  belonged 
to  tha  ditwoo  of  Mr.  Somera,  vi«.  No.  4,  No.  6,  and  No.  2. 


bwl  «■  ky  aiialaka, 


•  Tha  (Iffaal  wu  bwl  «■  ky  ■• 
kat  Iha  *el  that  it  wai  ■hewn.  w« 
whMi  ■iiawrilwl  Mr.  Bbke  ftaai 


t  Ha  wat  Oaplda  DMatar  at  tbt  tiaM, 
la  Ika  •qaiJnai. 


•ad  was  abfoad  •  nMNneat  oaly, 
baiare  a  Ciaart  of  Inquiry, 

tal  tha  Iktl  waa  aat  y«(  kMwn 


MaMaMaaa 


NAVAL    HIlTOir* 


(IIM 


The  offlcem  In  comiiwiui  of  ihaw  ihreo  bimla,  wanl  ^  <  •AiU  m 
ttnlil  wilhin  tho  •iiwke  of  (ha  oii«»my.  llan  they  «fell»''r««l 
thalr  Art',  throwing  in  «  u»rrible  dkctwrn  of  gfap«  aiul  nu  .rt- 
ball*.  •«<•  <h«  oriJor  wni  ijivnn  to  br«nl.  Ut  ;  «hU  iimmnnt, 
the  odd*  hail  biwii  o«  lhrr.i  lo  onn  anitwl  .».  i  .♦»  wl»nt«  j  ami  it 
wai  now,  if  poMibln,  mcreM«Hl.  The  brigt  ami  aclKwiiert 
euuld  no  longer  aMJai.  The  Turkbh  boau  fxnn  Hot  onlv  the 
hcavitwt  mill  tfw  lw«t  in  •vory  ■enw,  but  thay  w«w  much  th« 
■iroiitffnt  maiiiMHi.  Thn  combat  i»«)w  BwumwHl  a  chanw^ter  of 
chivalruuii  prownaa  and  of  dotporalo  |»r«mal  cfforU,  that  h«- 
loiiip  lo  the  middle  am,  rrther  than  U»  •triiKglM  «f  our  own 
tlmw.  Ita  detail*,  indeed,  aavour  more  of  thf  glow  of  romance, 
than  of  the  aober  aeverity  that  wo  ar*  accuatonMd  to  Mwookle 
with  reality.  .     ,,    ,    , 

yoiitcnanl  Commandant  Decatur  look  the  lead,  lie  had  no 
■ooner  di«oh«rK»'d  hi*  <howor  of  muaknt-balU,  than  No.  4  waa 
laid  alongiide  iho  opjioaing  lioat  of  the  niKuiiv,  and  ho  went 
Into  her,  followed  by  Lieutenant  Thorn,  Mr.  M*Donough,  and 
•II  the  Americana  of  hia  crew.  The  Tripol'**"  *»•»  w" 
divided  nearly  in  two  parta,  by  a  long  ojwn  hatch way,and  aa  the 
people  of  No.  4  came  in  on  one  aide,  the  Turka  retreated  to  the 
other,  making  a  aort  of  ditoh  of  the  open  apaoe.  Thia  cauaed 
an  inatant  ofdelay,  and,  perhapa,  fortunatwly,  for  it  permitted 
the  aaawlante  to  act  together.  Aa  aoon  aa  ready,  Mr,  Decatur 
charged  round  each  imd  of  the  hatchway,  and  after  a  ahort 
•Iruggle,  a  portion  of  the  Turka  were  piked  and  bayooated, 
while  tl»e  reat  aubmitted,  or  leaped  into  the  water.* 

No  Booner  hod  Mr.  Decatur  got  poaaeaatoa  of  tha  boat  firat 
aoaailed,  than  he  look  bar  in  tow,  and  tore  down  on  the  one 
noil  to  leeward  '  wuirt^  'he  enemy  aboard,  aa  bafinre,  ba 
went  into  him,  with  i-  «**•,  oi  lia  ofBoera  »»nd  men.  Tlie  cap- 
tain of  the  Tri|  *  t  ^  .^v:"  '»aB  a  lart  ^jwerflil  man,  and 
Mr.Decatur  pet  ...  :  ,  chai^adhimwllhapike.  Thewcwpoo. 
however,  waa  aeised  by  the  Turk,  wreated  ftom  the  handa  of 
the  aaaaiUnt,  and  turned  against  iu  owner.  The  latter  parried 
a  throat,  and  made  a  blow  with  hia  aword  at  the  pike,  with  a 
view  to  cut  off  iu  head.  The  aword  hit  the  iron,  and  broke 
at  the  hilt,  and  the  next  inatant  the  Turk  made  another  thniat. 

•  It  k  probtbla  that  tba  of«w  of  (bit  boat  \n»  la  a  ntMMwi  itauwad 
by  (he  oloM  lira  oftha  ena,  ••  Na  4  aupwachttl,  har  oafrtala  havO^  ra. 
Miv«d  no  *w«r  thu  fiwrtMO  mwikrtWli  ia  hk  body,  hf  that  oao  «r 
ohaigat 


Mmiilii 


«nl  "'kdih  'in 
thny  (kllvcnU 
|Mait<liiii.itiMt« 
'  Ihia  iiKimAnl, 
I  »il«o(a  i  and  it 
aiid  K>HMHi(*rt 
VB  not  only  th« 
iv«ra  much  tha 
a  charartor  of 
nfforU,  (hat  be- 
liw  uf  our  own 
uw  of  riinianon, 
ixd  to  MHOokta 

sad.  He  had  no 
than  No.  4  waa 
y,  and  h«  w«nt 
I'Dunough,  and 
ihun  twat  waa 
iway,andaatht 
ratroatfld  to  the 
t.  Thia  cauard 
for  it  permitted 
dy,  Mr.  Decatur 
und  after  a  ahort 
and  bayoneted, 
iter.* 

of  the  boat  firai 
lown  on  the  one 
nJ,  ae  befim,  be 
men.  1  he  cap* 
•rerAil  man,  and 
e.  The  weapon, 
}m  the  handa  of 
Im  latter  parried 
the  piko,  with  a 
iron,  and  broke 
e  another  thruat. 


RtMMw*  ■taggwad 
oaalala  havGrra* 
ly,  hy  that  oaa  4tr 


1804.] 


NATAL    HI8T0RT. 


198 


>i 


?«*• 


Nothing  was  left  to  tho  gallant  Decatur,  but  hia  arm,  with 
which  ho  so  far  averted  the  blow,  as  to  receive  the  pike  through 
the  flesh  of  one  breast.     Pushing  the  iron  from  tho  wound,  by 
tearing  the  flesh,  he  sprang  within  the  weapon,  and  grappled 
his  antagonist.     The  piko  fell  between  the  two,  and  a  short 
trial  of  strength  succeeded,  in  which  the  Turk  prevailed.    As 
the  combatants  fell,  however,  Mr.  Decatur  so  far  released  him- 
self as  to  lie  side  by  side  with  his  foe  on  the  deck.    The  Tri- 
politan  now  endeavoured  to  reach  his  poniard,  while  his  hand 
waa  firmly  held  by  that  of  his  enemy.  At  this  critical  instant, 
when  life  or  death  depended  on  a  moment  well  empk^ed,  or  a 
moment  lost,  Mr.  Decatur  drew  a  small  pistol  from  the  pocket 
of  hia  vest,  passed  the  arm  that  waa  free  round  the  body  of  the 
Turk,  pointed  the  muzzle  in,  and  fired.    The  ball  paaaed 
entirely  through  the  body  of  the  Mussulman,  and  lodged  in  the 
clothes  of  hia  foe.    At  the  same  instant,  Mr.  DMatur  ftit  the 
grasp  that  had  ainwst  smothered  him  relax,  and  he  was  liber- 
•ted.    He  sprang  up,  and  the  Tripditaa  lay  dead  at  his  feet. 
In  such  a  m^ie  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  the  strumie  of 
the  tim}  leaders  would  go  unnoticed.    An  enemy  raued  his 
sabre  to  cleave  the  skull  of  Mr.  Decatur,  while  ha  was  occupied 
by  his  enemy,  and  a  young  man  of  the  Enterprise's  crew  in. 
terposed  an  arm  to  save  him.    The  blow  was  intercepted,  but 
the  limb  was  severed  to  a  bit  <tf  skin.    A  firesh  rush  was  now 
made  upon  the  memy,  who  was  overoooM  without  much  flirther 

An  idea  of  the  desperate  nature  of  the  fi^tuig  that  distin- 
guished this  remaricaUe  assault,  may  be  gained  from  the 
amount  of  the  loss.  The  two  boats  captured  by  Lieutenant 
Commandant  Decatur,  had  about  eighty  men  in  them,  of  whom 
fiAy-two  are  known  to  have  been  kilfed  and  wounded ;  most 
rf  the  latter  very  badly.  As  <mly  eight  prisonen  were  mule 
who  were  not  wounded,  and  many  jun^ied  overboard  and 
swam  to  the  rocks,  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  Turks  sufibrad 
stili'more  severely.  Lieutenant  Commandant  Decatur  himself 
being  wounded,  he  secured  his  second  prize,  and  hauled  off  to 
nfdm  the  squadron  ,*  all  the  rest  of  the  enemy's  divisiim  that 
were  not  takon,  having  by  this  time,  run  into  the  harbour,  by 
pMsina  through  the  openmgs  between  the  rocks. 

White  Lntrteaant  ComuMndant  DecMur  was  thiM  empbyed 
t9  windward,  his  brother,  Mr.  James  Deeator,^  the  flnt  lieu- 
tenant of  the  NaatUHs,  was  nobly  emulating  his  ezanqile  in 
No.  8.    Reserving  his  fire,  like  No.  4,^8  young  officw 


tic.'-i 


194 


MAVAL     HISTORY. 


[1804 


A  u^  Jnfn  the  amoke.  and  wm  on  the  point  of  boarding,  when 
Jr^ivS  L  mule^ban  in  hi.  forohea'd:  The  boaU  met  and 
«hSd-  tndTn  the  confusion  of  the  d(«th  of  the  command- 
^     ^r  of  P?o  a  the  Turk  was  enabled  to  escape,  under  a 

commanders  ■»^B"r.,  ~:,^  _„,i,  -,f  death  was  aoinii  on  around 

Z  iZ^i  two  rthe  b«..t ;  when  making  «  'udden  rush, 
to  sirock  a  ninth  blow  on  the  head,  which  brough  MnTVippe 
^TvnL,     Rallvina  all  his  force  in  a  desperate  effort,  the 

the  htmt  iakm  by  Mr.  Trippe,  was  one  of  the  !«'g^  "• 
l«n«W  to  thetaihaw.    The  mimber  of  her  men  »  not  po-t- 

S8jt^^  Slaving  «^  ^^^y^irrr  iri" 

record.*  -■ — | —7. 

tl«riMMLtotof  lh«Trlpo»lt>nbi«l,sa*  •hew^ 
tmiidft  M  MM  wss  hut 


•  White  Mr.  TrippswM 
afantd  ■•  btow  it  Wm,  *«■>  •>-— -  •  —  « 
nt  UmtiMk,  of  ths  «»w*»^P^^ 


mmaX  . 
Wliitet 


. jthsprisMWWS 

«rn8baMeae.ar*- 


i-.V-*nm'Sa^^  JlfatMi*M«j 


[1804 

irding,  when 
Data  met  and 
10  commaod- 
ipe,  under  a 
he  tinie,  that 
)ugh  the  fact 
that  he  sus- 

t  of  the  three 
waa  not  idle. 
;  with  deadly 
inemy  in  th* 
by  the  shock 
J.  D.  Henley, 
Here,  too,  the 
rere  personal 
ins  on  around 
atnletic  form, 
ive  foe  to  fight 
rould  strike  a 
inner,  he  gave 
bre  wounds  in 
a  sudden  rush, 
ghtMr.Trippe 
mte  effort,  the 
liich  he  fought, 
[h  his  gigantic 
is  soon  ari  the 
pie  submitted, 
the  largest  be. 
nen  is  not  pcM* 
were  found  in 
d  or  wounded, 
grricans  boarded 
moat  gallant  Cu 


uilagHtbrt.  a  l^k 
)  bttsr  stniek,  8«r. 
thraoi^  bis  bsjly. 
kt,  in  ths  eoniMMi 


1604.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


195 


ViwB  vn  hw  ■ 
«i4,siiiall.   Po». 


AH  this  time  the  cannonade  and  bombardment  continued 
without  ceasing.  Lieutenant  Commandant  Somors,  in  No.  1, 
sustained  by  the  brigs  and  schooners,  had  forced  the  remain- 
ing boats  to  retreat,  and  (his  resolute  officer  pressed  them  so 
hard  as  to  be  compelled  to  ware  within  a  short  distance  of  a 
battery  of  twelve  guns,  quite  near  the  mole.  Her  destruction 
seemed  inevitable,  as  the  boat  came  slowly  round,  when  a  shell 
fell  into  the  battery,  most  opportunely  blow  up  the  platform, 
and  drove  the  enemy  out,  to  a  man.  Before  the  gunn  could 
be  again  used,  the  boat  had  got  in  tow  of  one  of  the  small  ves> 
aels. 

There  was  a  division  of  five  boats  and  two  galleys  of  the 
enemy,  that  had  been  held  in  reserve  within  the  rocks,  and 
these  rallied  their  retreatina  countrymen,  and  made  two  efforts 
to  come  out  and  intercept  the  Americans  and  their  prizes,  but 
they  were  kept  in  check  by  the  fire  of  the  frigate  and  small 
vessels.  The  Constitution  maintained  a  very  heavy  fir«,  and 
silebced  several  of  the  batteries,  though  they  ieK>pened  as  soon 
as  she  had  passed.  The  bombards  were  covered  with  the 
spray  of  shot,  but  continued  to  throw  shells  to  the  last. 

At  half-past  four,  the  wind  coming  round  to  the  northward, 
a  signal  was  made  for  the  gun-boats  and  bomb-ketches  to  re- 
join  the  small  vessels,  and  another  to  take  them  and  the  prizes 
in  tow.  The  la.s  order  was  handsomely  executed  by  the  brigs 
and  schooners,  under  cover  of  a  blaze  of  fire  from  the  frigate. 
A  quarter  of  an  hour  later,  the  Constitution  herself  hauled  off, 
and  ran  out  of  gun-shot. 

Thus  terminated  the  first  serious  attack  that  was  made  on 
the  town  and  batteries  of  Tripoli.  Its  efieet  on  the  enemy, 
was  of  the  most  salutary  kind ;  the  ntanner  in  which  their 
gun-boats  had  been  taken,  by  boarding,  having  made  a  lasting 
and  deep  impression.  The  superiority  of  the  Christians  in 
gunnery,  was  generally  admitted  before ;  but  here  was  an  in. 
stance  in  which  the  Turks  had  been  oreroome  by  inferior  num. 
hers,  hand  to  hand,  a  species  of  ooufliot  in  which  they  had 
been  thought  particulariy  to  excel.  Perhaps  no  inrtanoe  of 
more  despmle  fi^ng  cf  the  sort,  without  defensive  arrooar, 
IS  to  bo  Aund  in  the  pages  of  history.  Three  gun-Boats  wera 
sunk  in  tiM  b«rbour,  in  addition  to  the  three  that  were  taken } 
and  thp  leas  df  the  Tripolitans  by  shot,  most  have  been  very 
heafy.  About  My  ^hella  were  thrown  into  iWtown,  but  lit. 
tto  damage  appear*  to  have  been  done  in  this  wny,  very  few 
or  the  bomba,  on  account  of  the  iniperftct  materials  that  bad 


4 


I 


u-»^ 


\ 


NATAL  HIiTOET. 


[1804 


anlvea.  were  L  eutenanta  Commandant  U«»™'  "STk^    .„d 
L^^U  Trippe,  Decatur.  Bainbndge,  a»d  Jhom,  imd 

M^^Tm'Do^^^  Henley,  ^'^^JS^^'^. 
ship  working  into  a  foadatead. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

T«  ir«M!la  hauled  off  and  anchored  about  two  leagwj 

ihe  6th,  the  Arg™  brought.to  a  «»»"coS«e  PwWe  in- 
had  ju.t  got  out  of  thebarbour,  and  ^™^,  ^  j^,y 
duced  her  commander  to  return  *"r  "^J^  of  thi.  ▼«•- 
wounded  among  hi.  P*>~'^t  F««»  »»^«^  ^„  than 
Ml,  he  learned  that  Aeenemytod^»"a  area  mo 

tNt  in  qaaftl«B< 


[t804 

a  good  deal 

a  killed  wd 
exception  of 
ution,  though 
t  could  have 
through  her 
1  was  a  good 
■  range  for  • 
lot  the  shiM. 
)yal-yard  tbot 

aguat,  the  offl* 
{uishing  them* 
and  ^mers; 
1  Thorn,  and 
iUer.  But  the 
ition  waa  hon- 
iteadineM  of  a 


UM.] 


Hit  two  leogOM 
the  morning  of 
h  privateer  that 
jdore  Preble  in- 
n  all  the  badly 
Irtainoftbiavae- 
oven  more  than 


«Aa^t  lUmr,  V^ 


wimwhwbaftnd 
Wilheat  h«iMi^ 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


197 


had  been  suppoecd  m  the  attack  of  tl.o  3d,  porticularly  in  and 
about  tho  port  On  the  7lh,  the  privatoor  came  out.  LrinKinir 
a  letter  from  tho  French  comiul,  ataling  that  tho  Boiihaw  waa 
miwh  more  di(ipo«od  U)  treat  than  previoualy  to  the  late  aflhir, 
and  advumg  the  commodore  to  aond  in  a  flag  of  truce,  with  a 
view  to  negotiate.  A*  the  caatle  made  no  liiinal  to  aupport 
this  propoaition,  it  waa  not  regarded. 

Between  the  3d  and  the  7th,  the  squadron  waa  occupied  in 
ottering  the  rig  of  tho  throes  captured  gun-boaU,  and  in  puttina 
them  ma  condition  for  servioe.    Aa  toon  as  tho  latter  wei« 
eauippod,  they  were  numbered  7,  8,  and  9,  and  tho  command 
of  them  was  given  to  Lieutenants  Crane,  Caldwell,  and  Thorn. 
At  9  A.  M.,  (Ml  the  7th,  tho  light  vessels  woighH,  and  tho  bom- 
hanto  proceeded  to  take  a  position  in  a  small  bay  to  the  west- 
ward of  tho  town,  where  they  were  not  much  expoaod  to  shot. 
At  half-past  a,  tho  bombards,  having  gained  their  anchorajre, 
commenced  tt  rowing  shells,  and  the  giin-boato  opened  a  hee^y 
fire  on  the  batteries.    The  eflect  on  the  latter  was  soon  appa. 
rent,  and  many  of  their  guns  were  rendered  useless.    In  the 
height  of  the  cannonade,  a  strange  veaael  appeared  in  the  off- 
ing, and  the  Argus  was  sent  in  chase.    The  enemy  novr  be- 
gan to  get  hia  galleys  and  gun-boets  in  motion,  and  once  or 
twice  they  advanced  towards  the  opening  between  tho  rocka, 
and  commenced  a  fire;  but  the  Constitution,  Nautilus,  and 
mterpnae,  being  stationed  to  windward  to  cut  them  off,  and 
the  Siren  and  Vixen  lying  near  the  American  gun-vessels  to 
cover  the  latter,  the  enemy,  after  the  lesson  received  on  the  8d. 
were  afraid  to  venture. 

At  holf-poat  8,  or  after  the  aotkm  had  lasted  about  an  hour, 
a  hot  shot  poaoed  through  the  maunane  of  No.  8,  Lieutenant 
ColdweU,  tlie  boat  taken  by  Mr.  Trippe  in  the  aflkir  of  the  8d, 
and  ahe  immediately  blew  up.  When  the  smoke  cleoied  away 
all  tbo  after  part  of  the  boat  waa  under  water,  while  Mr.  Rob- 
ert  T.  Speooe,  of  the  Siren,  and  11  men  were  forward,  load- 
ing the  long  twenty-six-pounder  that  formed  her  armament 
Tl»»  gun  was  loaded  and  fired,  and  its  gallant  crew  gave  three 
cbeera  aa  their  veaael  aunk  beneath  them.  Mr.  Spence,  who 
could  not  awun,  saved  himaelf  on  an  oar,  white  thnest  of  the 
pe^  g^  on  board  the  diflbrent  boota,  where  they  continued 
to  taht  during  the  remainder  of  the  action. 

No.  8,  when  she  Uew  up,  had  a  crew  of  28  persona  in  all. 
of  whom  10  were  kUted  and  6  wounded.    Among  the  former 
waa  Mr.  Loldwell,  her  ooramander,  the  first  lieutaoont  of  the 
17* 


193 


NAVAL     HUTOEf 


ni 


8ir«n.  and  Mr.  Do«cy.  a  ^^'^^Ztti^Z.\^^ii> 
Th«w  two  ofl-Kxr-  wore  greatly  regretted,  m  twin  i» 

tKjhoonem  to  take  the  bombard,  ond  8""  »^" '"/"     ^i.  lim», 
^3mn  huulod  off  for  iu  "n^^^"*"  »)«•""•  ./"'JL"^  Sd 

of  the  Airterican  boats  had  been  ''»"«'•  "7^''„.„t  Wad^ 

Iho  cooinmod.  ''•P«';.V™!'13!hi,.  which  we™  lo  "^ 
of  Ih.  .perfy  «m.l  °f  *»'''^ A  toto  AAur-  h-> 
•hortlv  after  hia  own  departure,    m  ino  •'""  .  „^ 

"bSl  .La  for  the  asu-M^ron.  -"'^k? "te^i,'^*.  ^ 

Carriage,  in  the  other  f"8«t«','°  «"•"? 'TiS  ri^ii'. 
>«  of  no  immediote  use ;  and  the  rest  of  the  ^w^"  ^:- 
be  ol  no  immooin"        .      „   . ,  indtwed  to  deU'; 

MrTlCai-ay  wm  a  younf  ««'^,'lin^»»i«>«J  into  the  ftrilWi 
tlw  fl«K  of  hi.  oooauy.    I«  "JJ^TT^hi  ,  •wGTh.ttM  wi»«l  to  hi. 

IT!    Th..ppoi.t««.tw»co«ft««^rth^^ 

nuertlon  ha.  .Inoe  worn  ^^'^f'^^^^^l'    ^ho  cw  boMt  of  h.f lag  |-« 


ttlM. 

lAme  veawl. 
bade  Tair  to 

utod  nearly 
he  brigs  and 
tow,  and  th« 
,  at  this  time, 
I  a  Triend. 
dflrably.     In 
lodoro  Preble 
ny'a  batteries 
hip.     Several 
auflferwl  ina- 
tenant  Wada- 
I  and  wounded 

•  28,  Captain 
■3  Constitution, 
>re  Preble  fe- 
t  of  the  veaaola 
on,  and  of  the 
■eding  him  in 
:he  probability 
ch  were  to  ^^l 
in  Adanu  had 
ost  ^«- 

oaaela'ii,..  •-' 
)d  to  deW : 
of  prudenoi 
he  squadron  j» 
A  commauden, 

wfeakMiffinf  totbe 
hen  alM  blsw  a» 
who  had  QviMM 
Kd  into  the  Britisb 
^  he  ontarad  uiidar 
eonanet  on  tbU  oo- 
M»*  mutMi  *•>  '>'* 
m  acting  mMshii^ 
1  tha  gmtlMMn  m 
ni  thtt  thta  oT — 
outorhtTiagi 
l,sft. 


1804] 


NAVAL    Hi  STORT. 


109 


and  tho  new  commissions  were  brought  out  to  the  officers  be- 
fort)  Tripoli,  who  had  Uwu  promolitl.  In  consiHiucncu  of  these 
changes,  Liuuloiwnt  ('omiiinndant  Det-ulur  was  raisc^  to  the 
rank  of  captain,  and  btrnuK)  (ho  second  in  commnnd  (hen  pre- 
sent i  while  Lieutt'nun(M  Coiiimundont  Htowart,  Hull,  ('hnuncey, 
Smith,  oml  Hoomts,  liecaiiHi  inuiiters  commundant,  in  (ho  onler 
in  which  th«!y  nr«>  nanicil.  H«!vcral  <if  the  young  grntl(>mon 
were  niso  pronM>te<l,  including  most  oC  thoae  who  hod  a  share 
in  the  destruction  of  the  Philadelphia. 

The  bashaw  now  btcamo  more  disposed  than  ever  to  treat, 
the  warlaro  uromising  much  annoyonce,  with  no  corresponding 
benefits.  1  ho  cannoiuiding  dul  his  iMitteries  nn<l  vessels  great 
injuries,  though  the  town  probably  nufRTod  lews  (hnn  might 
have  been  expected,  being  in  a  measure  protected  by  ila  walla. 
The  shells,  too,  that  had  been  procured  at  Moasina,  turned  out 
to  be  very  bad,  few  explodii-g  when  they  fell.*  The  case  was 
difR)rent  with  (he  shot,  which  did  (heir  work  cfRxJually  on  the 
diflcrent  batteries.  Home  idea  may  bo  formed  of  the  spirit  of 
the  lost  attack,  from  the  report  of  Comnwdore  Preble,  who 
•tated  that  nine  guna,  one  of  which  was  used  but  a  short  time, 
threw  000  heavy  shot,  in  the  courae  of  little  more  than  two 
hours. 

Although  the  delay  caused  by  the  expected  arrival  of  the 
reinforcement,  was  improved  to  open  a  negotiation,  it  waa 
without  cfTect.  The  bashaw  had  lowered  his  demands  quite 
half,  but  he  still  insisted  on  a  ransom  of  $000  a  man  for  his 
priaonerg,  though  he  waived  the  usual  claim  for  tribute  in  fii- 
ture.  llioae  propoeitions  were  not  received,  it  being  expected 
that,  after  the  arrival  of  the  reinforcement,  the  treaty  might  be 
made  on  the  usual  terms  of  civilised  nations. 

On  the  0th  of  Augtist,  the  Argus,  Captain  Hull,  had  a  nar- 
row escape.  That  brig  having  stood  in  tovrrds  the  town,  to 
reconnoitre,  with  Commodore  Preble  oo  board,  one  of  the  hea- 
viest of  the  shot  from  the  batteries,  raked  her  bottom  for  some 
distance,  and  cut  the  planks  half  through.  An  inch  cr  two  of 
variation  in  the  direction  of  thia  shot,  would  in&llibly  have 
iunk  the  brig,  and  that  probobly  in  a  very  few  minutes. 


*  Aoeoniinf  l«  ths  private  jourml  of  Cs|itaiB  BsinbrUgw,  tlisa  a  pri- 
soosr  in  tbstown,  oat  of  forty-dght  ■hells  thtown  \tj  the  two  boeibards  in 
tbe  sttaok  of  the  7th,  bat  oa«  eiploded.  AgreesUy  to  Um  rseords  Bsade 
Inr  tills  oAoeir  at  the  time,  tlie  bomlie  on  nooeostion  did  mneh  ii4ar7,siid 
Ibe  towB  isBsnlly  soiknd  Isss  by  shot  even  than  wss  oomnoBly  aui*. 
posed. 


900 


NAYAL   HliTOlf. 


pIN 


No  intnlligtmcfl  •rnvinii  fn^n  I  ho  eipeftad  vmmU,  «  om- 
Riodoro  rroblo,  .bout  tho  lOlh.  b..K«n  to  rrmkfl  hi.  pn|««. 
lioM  for  aiK,ch«r  atlMk.  «.n.ling  «h«  Kntorprum.  Li-nii..nw.t 
Commandant  llobin«)n,  lo  MnlUi,  with  onkr.  lor  Ow  •!(-"»  ^ 
forwuni  t™.u.|K,rt.  with  watar,  Ih.  vo-«li  b«og  on  •  .hort 
.llowttoc*.  of  that  gr«.t  .MMwnlial.  On  lh«  night  of  tho  llth. 
Cptaiiui  IkxMiut  ami  C:haunc«y  went  clow,  in,  in  l»aU.  ana 
m-i^nnoitml  th«  .i'uatbn  of  tlw  enemy.  T.^™^ ''«"•'";;,;; 
thcir  return,  r«oort«.<  that  tho  v«a«U  olSho  ^  "I-"'*"  ""^  » 
wow  mooiwl  aVrwut  of  each  other,  m  a  Ima  oxlcndinB  fr » •• 
tho  nwlo  u,  the  caatlo,  with  lh«ir  hoada  to  tho  cailward,  which 
waa  making  a  dolunco  directly  ncroat  tho  innor  harbour  or 
galley -mol«. 

A  Kale,  however,  compelled  the  American  •quadion  to  •tanu 
off  •hiire  on  tho  mornina  of  the  18th,  which  cauied  another 
delay  in  the  rontcmplat«r  movement..  W  hilc  lymg- to  in  tho 
offins,  tho  stmmAn  met  tho  trantjiort.  from  Molta,  and  tho  fcn- 
terpnae  returned,  bringing  no  intolligonco  from  the  expected 

On  the  a4th,  the  tquadron  itood  in  towarda  J|»« Jo*'"''??'"* 
with  a  light  breexe  from  the  eastward.  At  8  P.  M  ,  the  Coiw 
stitution  anchortHl  ju»t  out  of  gun.«hot  of  the  hattonea,  but  tt 
Ml  calm,  and  the  boats  of  the  diflferent  ve«elt  were  w^nt  to 
tow  the  bombard,  to  a  poaitioo  (kvourable  for  Jhrowmg  .he  k 
Thia  wa.  thought  to  have  been  effected  by  8  A.  M.,  when  the 
two  vesMl.  began  to  heave  their  bomb.,  covered  by  the  ipin- 
boHta.  At  daylight,  they  all  retired,  without  having  received 
•  .hot  in  return.  Commodore  Preble  appwr.  to  »«ve  du- 
truated  the  result  of  thia  bombardment,  thefirrt  at  ompted  at 
night,  and  there  i.  i«a«m  to  think  it  P'«»«^  *«' •'"'l^'* 

ln»  weather  proving  very  fine  and  the  wind  ftvourable,  op 
Uw  aeth.  Commodore  Preble  determined  to  make  a  »nore  vi- 
floroua  aMult  on  the  town  and  batleriea,  than  any  whwh  hiid 
preceded  It,  and  hia  diapoaltion.  wore  taken  aocordmgly.  ITia 
ffun.boato  and  bombard,  reaulring  eo  many  moo  to  manage 
them,  the  Con.titutlon  and  the  email  veaaela  had  been  oom- 
pelled  to  go  into  action  riiort  of  hand.,  in  the  P«7|«».  •?»"• 
To  obviate  thia  difficulty,  the  John  Adaroa  had  been  kept  be- 
lbi»  the  town,  and  a  portion  of  her  officer,  ■"d  «»•*^>*f 
oearty  aU  her  boats,  were  pot  in  requisition,  on  thg  praaenl 

•  CMaia  Ihlnbf  W|o,  ia  bU  ptlnta  JoanMl,  ..y.  tktt  idl  lb. 
threwn  oa  thk  oooukw  ftU  ibort 


"^mm 


11104 

,  LiouUtnatit 
(he  agniit  kJ 
r  on  •  ahort 
of  iho  I7th, 
n  tjoala,  nnd 
1  iiffi<!«ra,  on 
itlilaii  flotilla 
lunilinK  from 
lw»ril,  which 
r  harbour  or 

Jron  to  atana 
tutml  another 
rjng'to,  in  the 
,  and  the  En* 
the  flxpectod 

B  town  again, 
M  ,  the  Con. 
tttoriw,  but  it 
were  w^.nX  to 
rowing  ahelU. 
M.,  when  tht 
I  by  the  ||un' 
ving  received 
to  have  dia* 
I  attempted  at 
It  little  eflfect* 
Ikvourttble,  oq 
lie  a  more  vU 
my  whioh  had 
idtngly.    The 
Mn  tomanag* 
«d  been  oom* 
revioua  aflkira. 
I  been  kept  be> 
ind  crew,  and 
Ml  the  pnaeiit 


bat  aS  Iha 


1804.] 


haval  MisToitr. 


orc«ik>a.  Captain  Chaunwy,  himsf^lf,  with  sIshj!  seyenty  of 
III!)  |K<uple,  wtint  on  biMirii  IIhi  (1ag-«hiit,  and  all  Ihn  >iiMla  ol  the 
•<{uadruM  w«  ro  ImMlud  out  and  manintHJ.  'I'ho  bomb  v«hmU  wor« 
oripplml  and  could  not  be  brought  into  anrvice,  a  cin-unuitanc* 
that  (trobahlv  waa  of  no  grt-at  conamjuoncw,  on  arcouiit  of  th« 
bailiit>Mi  of  trw)  nmtDruila  ihuy  w«ro  compellt<d  to  uan.*  'rhea* 
two  vcwM'U,  with  tlx)  H<ii)urgc,  iraiiaporU,  and  John  Adama, 
wtiru  anc-honnl  well  utf  at  atja,  not  being  available  in  tiie  0OD< 
teinitlatixl  cannonading. 

Kvcry  thing  being  prepared,  a  little  after  midnight  tha  M* 
lowing  gun<bo«ta  procoudtMl  to  Ihiur  atationa,  viz  :  No.  I,  Cap* 
Uin  Homcra;  No.  U,  Liuut<<nant  (inrdun;  No.  3,  Mr.  BriKika, 
maatcr  of  the  Argua ;  No.  4,  CnpUin  l>«tcalur  i  No.  A,  l<ieu* 
tenant  Lawrouoo ;  No.  6,  Lieutoiuint  Wadaworth  i  No.  7,  Liau* 
tenant  Crane ;  and  No.  0,  Lieutnnant  Thorn.  They  were  di< 
vided  into  two  diviaiona,  ua  before,  Captain  Decatur  having 
become  tlie  auperior  officer,  howovor,  by  hia  recent  pruiiM>tion. 
About  a  A.  M.  the  gun-boata  advancoci  clooe  to  the  njcka  at 
tlio  entrance  of  the  harbour,  covered  by  the  Siren,  (Japtain 
Stewart,  Arvua,  Captain  Hull,  Vixen,  Captain  Hmith,  Nautiiua, 
Lieutenant  Keod,  and  Eoterpriae,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Ro> 
binaon,  and  aooompanietl  by  all  the  boata  of  the  aquadron. 
I  lore  they  anchored,  with  apringa  on  their  cablea,  and  com' 
menced  a  cannonade  <x\  the  eiiciny'a  ahipping,  caatle,  and 
town.  Aa  aoon  aa  the  day  dawned,  the  Con^tution  weighied 
•nd  atood  in  towarda  the  rocka,  uodar  a  heavy  ftre  ftom  th« 
batteriea,  Port  Bngliah,  and  the  caatle.  At  thia  time,  the  «ne> 
my 'a  gun-boata  and  galleva,  thirteen  in  number,  were  ckiaaly 
and  warmly  engaf^with  the  eight  American  boata  {  and  tlM 
Conatitutioa,  ordering  the  latter  to  ratira  bv  oioDal,  aa  their 
ammunition  waa  moatly  conaumed,  delivered  a  heavy  flra  of 
round  and  grape  on  the  former  aa  ahe  came  up.  One  of  tb« 
enemy'a  boata  waa  ooon  aunk,  two  wore  run  aahore  to  prevent 
them  flom  meeting  a  aimilar  fate,  and  the  mH.  retreated. 

The  Conatitution  now  continued  to  stand  on,  until  ahe  had 
run  in  within  muakot>ahot  of  the  inole,  when  she  brought.to, 
and  opraed  upon  the  town,  fcattoriea,  and  caMle.     Here  ahe- 
lay  thrM-quartera  oi  an  hour,  pouring  in  a  fitroe  fire,  with 

•  It  la  aaaa4  that CaoMMMkm  PrtUa aokaaqaaalh  41aaOTafMllaa4 is 
atallMihiliaafMaayaftlwhewfca.  It  waa  aaapaaad  that  Ihia  ha4  baaa 
doM  hgr  tnaahary.  I>y  oHaaa  ofrraMhagaali  la  IMIjr.liMalMlla  havloff 
baaaoka^toNaiattfaaFraBebiavttMa. 


W 


RATAL     MIiTO»Y. 


tllOi. 


grr..  i^t,  unlil  finding  Ihtl  ail  iM  MwU  vi^Ui  wt«  «« 

Jt^tlMi  r„^;ny.  in  ihi.  uUncU,  »m...lr.  .  r«d  nviny  from  ih. 
chMT-Kua..  «f  th«  .m«ll  v.mm-,U.  Iho  „o«mv  .u.U.npl  much 
d.m«a.,  .ml  Uml  m««v  n»n.   Th«  Anirricwi  brig.  ••mI  *^h.«n. 

J«„J  «.•  whuh  .hoi  .iru^k  Mr.  .h«  h.d  mM  .  man  hurl  I 
tiovcnl  of  h«r  .hrou.U.  Im.k..uy.,  lru.«*.  .pnng..t«Vi, 
chliM.  I»W,««1  .  |r«««  «Wl  oC  running  ngging  wrrt,  .h«l 
Jw.r«nd  ;«t  her  hull  ot-H  w.ih  v«ry  «"{'"« '?J""'^-  , '^ 
ho«.  briongmg  U,  lh«  John  Ad.m..  undir  Iho  order,  of  Mr. 
£  OnL  Cr.%h.on.  o.k,  of  that  -Wp'-  ""»«"'•  "«««•.  «'" 
.unk  by  a  doul.lK.«d«l  .hot.  which  killod  thraa  m.n  *nd 
tadly  iound«.l  a  fourth,  but  th.  officer  .nd  the  i«t  ol  th« 
IvMt  ■  cnm  were  Mvcd.  ...  w^,. 

In  thi.  .tlMk  «  h«»»y  ihot  from  the  hmmcnn  gunboau 
•truck  tt,cS,p.«ed  through  .  w.U,  and  n^bounJm,  w.n 
roHi«.t:  I'o'T.lK,  r...m.!lll  within  .1.  Inche.  of  Aj.U„n 
Beinbridge.  who  wm  in  \M  at  the  moment,  and  coyertnl  him 
^  J'toiSand  mortar,  from  u.ukr  wh.ch  »h,w«i  '^^Tl.^Z 
■iderablv  hurt,  by  hk  own  oflfkera.     More  miury  wm  don«  th« 
S^r^  thk  at'tii.  than  in  either  of  the  otU.  the  .hot  ap. 
DMrina  to  have  told  on  many  of  the  houaea. 
'^'Z  Vhi.  time  to  the  clo.;  of  the  month.  ?«?•"»*««•'«•; 
making  to  u*)  the  bombard.  «gain,  and  for  '«^^"}«;'*J,*?* 
noiiading.  another  timnaport  having  arrived  (Vom  MaUa,  wtth. 
Tt  brinSng  any  intellirnco  of  the  vo-el.  umler  the  o  dert 
S'  (SnS^.  krron.'^On  the  8d  of  *'P««™»r.  ^J'^  ilil! 
being  rtHMly.  at  half-p-t  two  the  ..gnal  wa.  made  f"' »»J  •"*» 
veJi.  to  advance.    The  enemv  had  improved  ^^JT" 
well  aa  the  Americana,  and  they  f>nd  rajaed  »hree  of  thrir  own 
JS..boat.  that  had  been  .unk  fn  the  aflkir.  of  the  8d  and  of 
tho  a8lh  of  Auguat.    Themi  craft  w««  now  add«i  to  the  re.t 

"•"-SliTrTinahad  aUo  ehang^l  their  mod«  of  fighting. 
Hithe^o,  S  tho  cxceptionof  theaflkirof  the  Sd  their  ^llry. 
"nd7^2:i^i  had  lain^nther  behind  the  «Kk..  in  PT'o"- Jj 
fire  over  them,  or  at  the  opening,  between  them,  and  th«y  con 

«H,t.«ntly  found  thom-lve.  to  >"*•'??''"  f35':;"ir,tv 
American  cruiK.m,  the  latter  invari»b!y  cbooamg  eosterly 
wSd"  to  «ivance  ;ith.  a.  they  would  permit  « W ^  vc«eU 
to  retire.    On  tho  ad  of  Augu.t,  the  caw  excepted,  the  FurlM 


tllM. 

•ra  thrown 
y  (ram  th« 
iitmd  much 
m<l  •rhtwO' 
oiialttutUm. 
1  of  gnipr, 
miin  hurt! 
|irinK>alavai 
;  wrm  thol 
njurini.     A 
Jrr«  of  Mr. 
mutcfl,  wna 
I  man,  nnd 
real  of  the 

n  min-ho«ta 
jtiaing  lr<iin 
I  of  Citpiain 
cov«rBn  him 
I  taken,  con- 
waa  iJono  th« 
th«  ahtit  «p- 

irationa  w«ra 
ifing  the  can- 
Malta,  with, 
sr  thfl  ordflra 
r,  ev«ry  thing 
I  for  tht)  antaU 
1  ih«  time  at 
of  their  own 
he  8<1  and  of 
ed  lolhe  reat 

B  of  fighting. 

I,  their  ^lleya 
in  pnaitiona  to 
and  thwy  con» 
jBle  nod  aroall 
•ing  easterly 
rippkd  vpfwela 
ed,  the  Turk* 


I  MM.) 


NAVAL     HIlTOftT. 


h«d  btimi  ao  roughly  irfatiN)  liy  bring  hriHiKhl  hnnd  to  hnnd, 
when  thtiy  nvidrntly  oiiiortrd  iMilhinK  iiKim  ihan  a  caniKiiMile, 
thai  Ihny  w«m  not  diaiKMinl  to  vrnlurr  nKniii  oiitaidf  of  th«*  har* 
hour.  On  rhe  S<l  ol  N«>ptnmhnr,  howfvi'f,  »hn  day  at  whii'h 
wn  have  now  arrtfod,  Ihnir  plan  of  drtrnre  wn«  jmlicKiualv 
altared.  No  aoonar  waa  It  |wn-«ivfH|  that  ilie  Ante rM-nn  i<|iiai|* 
ron  waa  in  motion,  with  a  l>t»h  iWikh  to  annoy  ih«'ni,  than 
ilxtir  gnn-lxMla  and  k"""/"  lf<>*  ondir  way,  nnd  worked  up  to 
win<lwnnl,  until  lh«iy  had  Knin«nl  a  alalion  on  thti  wcaihpr  ai<kl 
of  Iho  harljiMir,  dirwtly  tindor  tho  llniofFort  KnKJiah,  n«  wull 
aa  of  a  mw  battery  that  had  been  rrecltol  a  little  to  tho  mtmU 
ward  of  the  latter. 

Thia  diapoaition  of  thoonriny'a  forre,  rwquirod  a  Cirrreanond* 
ing  changn  on  tlie  part  of  th"  Aoirncnna.  The  Ixmihonla 
were  directed  Ui  tnkn  alaliona  and  to  coniioencn  ihrowinu;  lhr<ir 
ahella  |  while  the  gun>bn«ta,  in  two  diviaiona,  rommamfcui  ag 
uaual  by  (^aptaina  I)i?<iatur  and  Homeni,  nnd  covdreii  bv  tho 
briga  and  achoonera,  aaaaded  the  enemy 'a  flotilla.  I'hu  ar< 
rnngenM>nt  aeimraliKl  the  battle  into  two  diatinnt  parta,  leaving 
the  bomb  veaaela  very  much  <i»()oaed  to  tho  Urn  of  the  caatio, 
the  mol«,  crown,  and  othor  hattrriea. 

The  Trinolitan  gun-boata  and  galleya  atooil  the  lire  of  tha 
American  flotilla  until  the  latter  had  got  within  reach  of  mua* 
ketry,  wh<m  they  retreated.  The  aaaailanta  now  aepeiited, 
anme  of  the  Kun^boel*  follf/wing  the  enemy,  and  pouring  in 
their  i\ni,  whii«^  (ho  othera,  with  the  bnga  and  achoonera,  can* 
nonaded  Fort  Kngliah. 

In  tha  moau  while,  pertwiving  that  the  bombarda  were  auf. 
fering  aeverely  (Vom  the  undiaturbed  flre  of  the  guna  to  which 
they  were  espoaed,  CJommodore  Preble  ran  down  m  the  Con- 
atitution,  auita  near  the  rocka,  and  within  the  bomb  veaacia, 
and  buought  to.  Here  the  frigate  opened  na  warm  a  fire  aa 
probably  ever  came  out  of  the  broadside  of  a  eingle-decke^ 
ahip,  and  in  a  poattbn  where  aeventy  heavy  guna  could  bear 
upon  h«r.  The  whole  harbour  in  the  vksinity  of  the  town,  was 
glitteting  with  the  apray  of  her  ahot,  and  each  battery,  aa  uaual, 
waa  ailenoed  aa  aooa  aa  it  drew  her  attention.  After  throwing 
more  than  three  hundred  round  ahot,  bcaidea  grape  and  can« 
later,  the  fVigate  hauled  oflT,  having  previouafy  ordered  tho 
other  veaaela  to  retire  from  action,  by  aignal. 

The  gun-boata,  in  thia  afliiir,  were  an  hout  and  fifteen  min- 
ut«a  engaged,  in  which  time  they  threw  four  hundred  round 
•hot,  beaidea  grape  and  caniatcr.     Lieutenant  Trippe,  who 


uAuMiHl 


r*fP 


▼*   *" 


mmm 


204 


NAVAL    BISTORT. 


[1804 


had  ao  much  diafinguibhcd  him9«3lf,  and  who  had  "»«>*«*  «^ 
many  wounds  that  day  month,  resumed  the  command  ol  IMo. 
6  for  this  occaaion.  Lieutenant  Morris,  of  the  Argus,  was  in 
charge  of  No.  3.  All  the  small  vessels  suifered,  as  usual, 
aloft,  and  the  Argus  sustained  some  damage  m  her  hull. 

The  Constitution  was  so  much  exposed  \n  the  attack  jusl 
related,  that  her  escape  can  only  be  attributed  to  the  weight  ol 
her  own  fire.  It  had  been  found,  in  the  previous  affairs,  that 
■o  long  as  this  ship  could  play  upon  a  battery,  the  Turks  could 
not  be  kept  at  iu  guns ;  and  it  was  chiefly  while  she  was  veer- 
tog,  or  tacking,  that  she  sufforDd.  But,  after  making  every 
Bllowance  for  the  effect  of  her  own  cannonade,  and  for  the  im- 
perfect  gi|nnery  of  the  enemy,  it  creates  wonder  that  a  single 
fegate  covAd  lie  opposed  to  more  than  double  her  own  number 
of  available  guns,  and  these  too,  principally,  of  heavier  metal, 
while  they  were  protected  by  stone  walls.  On  this  occasion, 
the  frigate  was  not  supported  by  the  gun-boats  at  all,  and  ste 
became  the  sole  object  of  the  enemy's  aim  after  the  bombards 

had  withdrawn.  „       .     .        «•     j 

As  might  have  been  expected,  the  CkinsUtution  suffered  more 
to  the  atttick  just  recorded,  than  in  any  of  the  previous  affairs, 
though  she  received  nothing  larger  than  grape  in  her  hull. 
She  had  three  shelU  through  her  canvass,  one  of  which  ren- 
dered  the  main-top-saU  momentarily  useless.  Her  sails,  stanfl. 
ins  and  running  rigging  were  also  much  cut  with  •not.  t«P- 
uL  Chauncey,  of  theJohn  Adams,  -nd  a  party  of  his  offioeni 
and  crew,  served  to  the  Constitution  aaato  on  this  day,  and 
wore  of  easential  use.  Indeed,  to  all  the  service  which  sue- 
ceeded  her  arrival,  the  commander,  officers,  and  crew  of  the 
John  Adams  were  acUvely  employed,  though  the  ship  hersolt 
could  not  be  brought  before  the  enemy,  for  the  want  of  gun- 

'^'iKimbards,  havtog  been  much  expowjd,  suflfered  accord. 
togly.  No.  1,  was  so  much  crippled,  as  to  be  unable  to  move, 
wUhout  being  towed,  and  was  near  stoking  when  she  was  got 
to  the  anchorage.  Every  shroud  she  bad  was  aM  away. 
Commodore  Preble  expressed  himself  satisfied  with  the  good 
conduct  of  every  man  in  the  squadron.  All  the  vessels  anpoM 
to  have  been  well  conducted,  and  efficient  in  their  several  sta 
tions.  Of  the  effect  of  the  shells,  there  is  noaccount  to  be  re. 
lied  on,  though  it  is  probable  that,  as  usual,  many  did  not  ex. 
plode.  There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  bombs  were  weii 
directed,  and  that  they  fell  into  the  town. 


Doeived  sc 
Dd  of  No. 
us,  was  in 

as  usual, 
hull. 

ittack  just 
weight  of 
ifairs,  that 
urks  could 

was  veer- 
Ling  every 
for  the  im- 
lat  a  single 
vn  number 
vier  metal, 
s  occasion, 
ill,  and  she 
9  bombards 

fiered  more 
ious  affairs, 
n  her  hull, 
which  ren* 
sails,  stand- 
ibot.  Cap. 
*his  offioers 
is  day,  and 
which  suc- 
crew  d*  the 
ship  herself 
ant  of  gun* 

ered  accord- 
Ue  to  move, 
she  was  got 
shot  away, 
ith  the  good 
issels  appear 
sereral  sta 
unt  to  be  re* 
^  did  not  ex* 
bs  wezewell 


1804.) 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


205 


While  Commodoro  Problc  was  thus  actively  employed  in 
carrying  on  the  war  against  the  enemy,  the  attack  just  re- 
lated having  been  the  fiAh  made  on  the  town  within  a  month, 
he  was  nK^tating  another  species  of  annoyuice,  that  was 
now  ready  to  be  put  in  execution. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Th«  ketch  Intrepid,  which  had  been  employed  by  Mr.  Deca- 
tur in  burning  the  Philadelphia,  wras  still  in  the  squadron,  hav* 
ing  been  used  of  late  as  a  transport  between  Tripoli  and  Mal< 
ta.  This  vessel  had  been  converted  into  an  "  infernal,"  or, 
to  use  more  intelligible  terms,  she  had  been  fitted  as  a  floating 
mine,  with  the  intention  of  sendins  her  into  the  harbour  of  Tri- 
poli, to  explode  among  the  enemy's  cruisers.  As  every  thing 
connected  with  the  history  of  this  little  vessel,  as  well  as  with 
the  enterprise  in  which  she  was  about  to  be  employed,  will  have 
interest  with  the  public,  we  shall  be  more  pai-ticular  than  com* 
nnon  in  giving  the  details  of  this  afikir,  as  they  have  reached 
us  through  public  documents,  and  oral  testimony  that  is  deem- 
ed worthv  of  entire  credit. 

A  small  room  or  magasine  had  been  planked  up  in  the  hold 
of  the  ketch,  iakt  forward  of  her  principal  mast.  Communi- 
cating with  this  magasine  was  a  trunk  or  tube,  that  led  aft,  to 
another  room  filled  with  combustibles.  In  the  planked  room, 
or  magazine,  were  placed  one  hundred  barrels  of  gunpowder 
in  bulk,  and  on  the  deck  immediately  above  the  powder,  were 
laid  fifty  thirteen  and  a  half  inch  shells,  and  one  hundred  nine 
inch  shelb,  with  a  large  .quantity  of  shot,  pieces  of  kentledge, 
and  iVasments  of  iron  of  diflhrent  sorts.  A  train  was  laid  in 
the  trunk,  or  tube,  and  fines  were  attached  in  the  proper  man* 
ner.  In  addition  to  thia  arrangement,  the  other  small  room 
mentkxied  was  filled  with  splinters  and  light  weed,  which,  be* 
sidas  firing  the  train,  were  to  keep  the  enemy  firom  boarding, 
as  the  flaims  would  be  apt  to  induce  them  to  apprehend  an  im- 
medkte  expknoa. 

The  plan  was  well  laid.  It  was  the  intention  to  profit  by 
the  first  dark  night  that  oflbred,  to  carry  the  ketch  as  far  as 
19 


'^ 


JbfMta 


906 


NAVAL    HIBTORY. 


[1804. 


poHible  into  the  galley-mok,  to  light  the  fire  in  the  splmter- 
Iwm,  and  for  the  men  employed,  to  make  their  retreat  u.  boaU. 
The  arrangcmenu  for  carrying  this  project  >ntoe»«   «£• 
pear  to  have  been  made  with  care  and  prudence.    HtUl  the 
duty,  on  every  account,  was  deemed  desperate.     It  was  neces- 
sary in  the  first  place,  to  stand  in  by  the  western  or  htl^e 
pasW'.  in  a  duU-iiling  vessel,  and  with  a  l«ht  wind  direct^ 
in  thTface  of  several  batteries,  the  fire  of  which  could  only  be 
escaped  by  the  enemy's  mistakmg  the  keteh  for  a  vesselen- 
deavWing  to  force  the  blockade.    It  would  also  be  required  to 
pass  quite  near  these  batteries,  and,  as  the  ketch  advanced,  she 
Uuld  be  running  in  among  the  gun-boats  and  galleys  of  the 
enemy.    It  U  not  necessary  to  point  out  the  hazards  of  such 
an  exploit,  as  a  simple  cannonade  directed  agamst  a  small 
vessel  filled  with  powder,  would  of  itself  be,  m  the  last  degree, 
dangerous.    After  every  ching  had  succeeded  to  the  perfect 
hop«i  of  the  assailants,  there  exUted  the  necessity  of  effecting 
a  retreat,  the  service  being  one  in  which  no  quarter  could  be 

"^ch  it  duty  could  be  confided  to  none  but  officers  and  men 
of  known  coolness  and  courage,  of  perfect  self-possesswn,  and 
of  tried  spirit.  Captain  Somers,  who  had  commanded  one 
division  of  the  gun-boats  in  the  different  attacks  on  the  town 
that  have  been  related,  in  a  manner  to  excite  the  respect  of  all 
who  witnessed  his  conduct,  volunteered  to  take  charge  of  this 
enterprise ;  and  Lieutenant  Wadsworth,  of  the  Constitution,  an 
officer  of  great  merit,  offered  himself  as  the  second  in  com- 
mand.  It  being  umiecessary  to  send  in  any  more  than  tbwj 
two  gentlemenrwith  the  few  men  needed  to  manage  the  keteh 
and  row  the  boaU,  no  other  officer  waspermitted  to  go,  though 

it  U  understood  that  several  volunteered.  ^ 

The  night  of  the  4th  of  September,  or  thatof  the  day  which 
succeeded  the  attack  last  related,  promising  to  be  obMUie,  and 
there  being  a  good  leading  wind  from  the  eastward,  it  was 
elected  fo?  the  purpose.  Commodore  Preble  app««»  to  have 
viewed  the  result  of  this  expedition  with  giwt  •n»»ety,  and  to 
have  ordered  all  its  preperationa,  with  the  utinort  persoMl 

attenUontothedeiaiUi.  TW»j?*"«8»^'f**^^>^ASf" 
increased  by  his  knowledge  of  the  character  of  the  officers 

who  were  to  go  in,  and  who,  it  was  »»«»e"»«^' '^^fP'^ 
a  determmation  neither  to  be  taken,  nor  to  penmt  t^  Mnmum- 
tion  in  the  keteh  to  fall  into  the  enamy's  h'«M*The  tottw 
point  was  one  of  gieiU  importance,  it  being  uoderrtiod  thtttae 


[1804. 

e  apliater- 
it  ih  boats, 
eflict  ap> 
8ti]lthe 
was  iiecfls- 
a  or  little 
id,  directly 
lid  only  be 
vessel  en- 
required  to 
ranced,  she 
leys  of  the 
rds  of  such 
ist  a  small 
last  degree, 
the  perfect 
ofefTerting 
er  could  be 

rs  and  men 
Mission,  and 
Handed  one 
on  the  town 
espect  of  all 
arge  of  this 
stitution,  an 
and  in  com- 
e  than  these 
ge  the  ketch 
0  go,  though 

e  day  which 
obaeure,and 
vard,  it  was 
ears  to  have 
tiety,  and  to 
oat  personal 
»  have  been 
the  officers 
adexpnmed 
theanununi- 
,  The  latter 
itood  that  the 


leOi] 


NAVAL    HIBTOmV. 


Tripolit&ns,  like  the  Americans,  were  getting  to  bo  in  want  of 
powder.*  In  short,  it  was  the  general  unuersianding  in  the 
squadron,  before  the  ketchproceeded,  that  bei  officers  had  deter- 
mmed  not  to  bo  taken.  Two  fast-rowing  boats,  one  belonging 
to  the  Constitution,  that  pulled  six  oara,  and  ono  belonging  to 
the  Siren,  that  pulled  four  oars,  were  chosen  to  brin^  the  party 
off,  and  their  crews  were  volunteers  from  the  Constitution  and 
Nautilus.  At  the  last  moment,  Mr.  Israel,  an  ardent  young 
officer,  whose  applkation  to  go  in  had  been  rejected,  found 
means  to  get  on  board  the  ketch,  and,  in  consideration  of  his 
gallantry,  he  was  permitted  to  join  tlie  party. 

When  all  was  ready,  or  about  8  o'clock  in  the  evening  of 
the  day  just  mentioned,  the  Intrepid  was  under  way,  with  the 
Argus,  vixen,  and  Nautilus  in  company.  Shortly  after,  the 
Siren  also  weighed,  by  a  special  order  from  the  commodore, 
and  stood  in  towards  the  western  passage,  or  that  by  which 
the  ketch  was  to  enter,  where  she  remained  to  look  eut  for  the 
boats. 

Th«  Nautilus,  Captain  Somers*  own  vessel,  accompanied  the 
ketch  clfMO  in,  but,  on  reaching  a  position  where  fhere  was 
danger  of  her  creating  suspicions  by  being  seen,  she  hauled 
off,  to  take  her  station,  like  the  other  small  vessels,  near  the 
rocks,  in  order  to  pick  up  the  retreating  boats.  The  last  per* 
son  of  the  squadron  who  had  any  communication  with  Captain 
Somers,  was  Mr.  Washington  Reed,  the  first  lieutenant  of  his 
own  schooner,  the  NautUus,  who  left  him  about  9  o'clock.  At 
that  time,  all  was  calm,  collected,  and  in  order,  on  board  the 
'*  infernal."  The  general  uneasiness  was  increased  by  the  cir« 
cumstauce  that  three  gun-boats  lay  near  the  entrance ;  and 
some  of  the  last  wor£i  of  the  experienced  Decatur^  before 
taking  leave  of  his  firiend,  were  to  caution  him  against  these 
enemiea. 

The  sea  was  covered  with  a  dense  haxe,  though  the  stars 
were  visiUe,  and  the  last  that  may  be  said  to  have  been  seen 
of  the  Intre^,  was  the  shadowy  forms  of  her  cvvass,  as  she 
steered  slowly,  but  steadily,  into  the  obscurity,  where  the  eyes 

*  A  dsy  or  two  Man  the  k^eh  was  nady,  tba  floaurodon  himMlf 
WM  tryiiw  a  port-fira  fai  tho  oabin  at  the  CanalilntiaB.  ia  tlw  prawnee  oT 
Caplaia  Soman,  u4  rf  ooa  or  two  otbar  cAsws,  and  flndia*  that  on* 
bmwd  a  partieolar  tiaw,  bj  the  watahb  ha  ranarked  that  ha  thooght  "it 
boned  longer  thaa  waa  aeeaaaaiy,  as  tlM  I' 
appfaadi  aad  « 
BO  poit>fin  at  I 


'  thsa  waa  aeeaaaaiy,  aa  the  time  might  anhie  the  enaoiy  to 
ezlingaUi  it  beftre  the  train  woaldlw  flied."  "laakftr 
nU,"  was  tks  quiet  answer  of  Gqtaia  floaami 


308 


NAVAL    HllTOat. 


[18M 


of  the  many  anxious  spectators  fancied  they  could  still  trace 

ThisTnkinB  into  the  gloom  of  night,  was  no  bad  image  of  the 
SrS  mysteryV  ha,  veiled  the  sul»oquent  proceed- 

'Vh:i'ThrJxrwUrarrb;;the^^^ 

,«,t  a  musket-shot  from  the  mole,  standing  ^^^X  f  »^.f  "■ 
hour  One  officer  on  board  the  nrxinsst  vessel,  the  Nautilus, 
STSd.  l^wZr.  to  have  never  lost  sight  of  her  with  a  nighU 
3^  buTeven  he  could  dwtinguish  no  more  than  her  dun  P«. 
SSns  There  is  a  vague  rumour  that  she  touched  on  the 
K"hough  i  doe.  not  appear  to  rest  on  sufficmt  authority 
StoSS  to  much  crS^  To  the  last  moment,  she  ap. 
S««  to  Savl  been  advancing.  About  this  tin^  the  battens 
KL  to  fire.  Their  shot  are  said  to  have  been  directed  to- 
SS£^ver7poU.t  where  an  enemy  nught  be  ^^  >» 

Jnot  improbibte  that  some  were  auned  at  the  ketch. 

TheTriod  between  the  time  when  the  ntrepid  was  last 
««i  L5l  that  when  most  of  those  who  watched  without  the 
S  tearned  her  fate,  was  not  long.  This  was  an  interval 
S^^SteSJ^Sn^t  of  breathless  expectation ;  and  it  was  mter- 
«Jtedonlv  bv  the  flashes  and  the  roar  of  the  enemy's  guns. 
viSiTiSS  SSTof  what  tho«.  who  gazed  mlo  the  gloom 
SS^oXd^y  beheld  J  but  one  melancholy  fact  alone 
Sd'sSmTto  b^Jnd  cont'radicUoo.    A  fierce  and  wdden 

S SJoScussiSTfollowed  that  rnade  the  cru»er.  jn  the 
SS  Smble  from  their  truck,  to  their  keels.  This  sudden 
S  of  light  was  followed  by  a  darkiie«i  of  tw«>:f<>»d  >;jr2' 
nndthe  mns  of  the  battery  became  mute,  as  if  annihilated. 
SlJSiiXlta  were  ^7in  tje  «r.  »djome  of  them^ 
Jcended  on  the  rocks,  where  they  were  heard  to  ^1-^ 
SsSwere  burning,  and  a  few  exploded,  but  much  the  greater 
wTwTrTextinguSihed  in  the  water.  The  m«rt.  too,  haj  r«n 
J^IpS^uUrlyTwith  iU  rigging  uid  ouivm-  blawng.  but  the 

^iSS'aS  t^^  was  the  eruption,  '^^^j^^ 
lhed«k^  which  succeeded,  that  it  was  not  po«i.ble  to  a«»^ 

ISi  £.  preci«  position  of  the  keteh  at  the  "noment.  In  the 
Sir^,bat  fl«£ng  light,  no  person  could  »?yt|^»-^ JjJ 

SSedSore thWtfe  «n»»«^»  T"i!2^^'  tU^hSffl 
hAi)  not  reached  the  point  at  which  she  aimed.  The  shells  Uaa 
S^  i^S&Taad  tiL  which  fell  on  the  rock- were  «)  many 


[1804 

[atill  trace 
isappeared. 
nage  of  the 
nt  proceed- 

ye,  she  was 
for  the  har- 

0  Nautilus, 
rith  a  night* 
ler  dim  pro- 
shed  on  the 
nt  authority 
tent,  she  ap- 
the  batteries 

1  directed  to- 
BCted,  and  it 
tch. 

pid  was  last 
1  without  the 
I  an  interval 

it  was  inter- 
aemy's  guns, 
to  the  gloom 
>ly  fact  alone 
e  and  sudden 
streamed  up* 
iruisera  in  the 

This  sudden 
fold  intennty, 
f  annihilated. 
I  of  them  de* 
to  fall.  The 
ch  the  greater 
too,  haiS  risen 
lacing,  but  the 

and  so  intense 
Hible  to  ascer- 
nient.  In  the 
ly  that  be  had 
lat  the  Intrepid 
The  shells  had 
I  were  so  many 


mamttmmiimimm 


•Ml 


,j|4^#-»  i«»-  •  #  ^  *  •- 


'•I 


,'<!*'. 


»:^4^ 


,4(i(f '.^^Ji^: 


>*'■  ,r^;^w*  •'  '• "  ir*»!»"^w—w,  (**■*■ 


1804.] 


NAVAL    HIBTOftT. 


300 


proofs  nf  this  iniportdnt  truth.  Them  was  no  other  fact  to  ln> 
dicato  iho  preciso  Hpot  where  ttm  kctfh  oxplo(ie<i.  A  few  crion 
arow  frum  the  town,  but  the  subsoqucnt  ond  doop  silence  that 
followed  was  more  olu<|Ucnt  than  any  clamour.  The  wholo 
of  Tripoli  was  like  a  city  of  tombs. 

If  ovcry  eye  had  bo<?n  watchful  nroviously  to  tho  explosion, 
every  eye  now  becamo  doubly  vigilant  to  discover  tho  rotrent- 
ing  boats.  Men  got  over  tho  sides  of  tho  vessels,  holdina 
lights,  and  placing  their  ears  near  tho  water,  in  the  hope  or 
detecting  tho  sounds  of  oven  muffled  oars ;  and  ollcn  was  it 
fancied  that  tho  gallant  adventurers  wore  near.  Thny  never 
ro-uppcored.  Hour  after  hour  went  by,  until  hope  itself  be- 
cumo  exhausted.  Occasionally,  a  rocket  gloaniod  in  tho  dark- 
ness, or  a  sullen  gun  was  hoard  from  the  frigate,  as  signals  to 
the  boats ;  but  the  eyes  that  should  have  seen  the  first,  were 
sightless,  and  the  last  tolled  on  the  ears  of  tho  dead. 

Tho  three  vesiwls  assigned  to  that  service  hovered  around 
tho  harbour  until  the  sun  rose ;  but  few  traces  of  the  Intrepid, 
and  nothing  of  her  devoted  crow,  could  be  discovered.  Tho 
wrck  of  the  mast  lay  on  the  rocks  near  the  western  entrance, 
and  here  and  there  a  fragment  was  visible  nigh  it.  One  of  tho 
largest  of  the  enemy's  gun-boats  was  missing,  and  it  was  ob- 
served that  two  others,  which  appeared  to  be  shattered,  were 
being  hauled  upon  the  shore.  Tne  three  that  had  lain  across 
tho  entrance  had  disappeared.  It  was  erroneously  thought 
that  the  castle  had  sustained  some  injury  from  the  concussion, 
though,  on  the  whole,  the  Americans  were  left  with  the  melan- 
choly certainty  of  having  met  with  a  serious  loss,  without  ob- 
taining a  commensurate  advantage. 

It  is  now  icnown  that  tho  bottom  of  the  ketch  grounded  oo 
the  north  side  of  the  rocks,  near  the  round  battery  at  the  end 
of  the  mole ;  and  as  the  wind  was  at  the  eastward,  this  renders 
it  certain  that  the  explosion  took  place  in  the  western  entc^nce 
to  the  harbour,  and  nilly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  spot  that 
it  was  intended  the  ketch  should  reach.  In  the  wreck  were 
found  two  mangksd  bodies,  and  four  more  were  picked  up  on 
the  6th,  floating  in  the  harbour,  or  lodgc<l  on  the  shore.  Theae 
bodies  were  in  the  most  shocking  state  of  miitilation,  and, 
though  Captain  Bainbrid^  and  one  or  two  of  his  companions 
were  taken  to  see  them,  it  was  found  impossible  to  dlrtinguish 
even  the  offi(%rs  from  the  men.  It  is  understood  that  six  more 
bodies  were  found,  the  day  after  the  explosion,  on  the  shore  to 
18*  18 


MJOk. 


310 


NATAL    HIiTOlf. 


(II 


thn  •outhwRfd  of  lh«  town,  and  5hat  a  wiKiartHl  U*t.wahon« 
body  ill  it.  h««l  driftca  on  th.i  beach  to  lb«  wctwanl. 

TW  ilaU.nH.nt.  «.ro..nl  for  all  Ih.-o  who  w«nt  m  th« 
luHch.  and  lurni.h  co..j«:.ural  oluwi  to  fa.u  that  '^ouUl  .Hhar- 
wi*,  be  vfliled  in  Imponolrable  myatery.  I  h«  «p..t  where  ih« 
boat  waa  foun.l.  waa  a  proof  thai  th«  kotrh  ha<l  iv.t  go  v«ry 
Shinto  .h.,  ,««.««.  or'the  cutter  could  not  h.v«  fj^^};'^^ 
of  tho  natural  mol«  to  the  we^twanl.  Th«  n^aaon  that  th«  boat 
and  tho  kotchV  Urttom  wcro  iw.i  ftmnd  m«r  thoaanw  spot,  waa 
probd>ly  bwauao  tha  ftmt  man  acted  on  nwm  bv  the  wind,  and 
the  laat  by  the  curr«nt ;  atwl  tho  fact  timt  a  Ut  m«y  hatre 
drifted  through  rocka,  with  which  the  Nhore  ..  cYcrywher* 
moit)  or  le-«Tin«a.  that  would  have  brought  up  th«  y»mk. 

A.  thc«)  waa  Imt  ono  body  found  in  the  b.«t,  we  »™  toft  to 
aupiKMM  it  waa  that  of  thn  kwpcr.  Of  Ih*.  four-oanHl  boa^,  or 
that^»hich  belonged  to  the  Siren.  the«  dom  not  appear  to  have 
been  any  t.din«Vand  it  wa.  either  deati».yed  by  the  e«po.on. 
wnk  by  tho  fall  of  fragmonta,  or  privately  appropnated  to 
himaelfby  aomoTripolitan  „  »  .i«r->i».»i 

Prom  the  Act  of  tkere  being  but  a  aingle  nian  '«  »hef^«^ 
tulion'.  cutter,  tJiere  ia  reaaon  to  infer  that  mo-l  of  the  offic«« 
and  fwrn  were  on  board  the  ketoh,  beraelf,  when  the  blew  un. 
No  peraon  i»  underatood  to  «ty  thai  any  of  the  enemy  nv,.nmk 
werTawn  vmt  the  ketch,  when  she  exploded,  and,  with  theje 
ino«||re  premiaea,  we  are  left  to  draw  our  mferencea  aa  to  tfte 
Muaea  of  the  diiiaater.  a  ■      l-      \r 

That  Captain  Somera  wta  aa  cajaWe  of  sacftJteing  himiwH, 
when  thai*  waa  an  occaaion  for  it, aa  anv  man  who «"'»'*«; 
i.  probably  aa  true  aa  it  i«  certain  that  he  would  not  deatroy 
himaeir,  and  much  le«i  olhem,  without  aufflcient  reaaon.     It 
haa  been  wppoaed  U«t  the  ketch  waa  boarded  by  the  enemy, 
and  that  her  iwwlute  commander  fired  the  tram  m  prefepeoce 
to  being  taken.    The  .pint  created  by  the  chivalrous  eimloita 
of  Decatur,  and  the  high-toned  diaclpljne  and  d-^nng  of  Fre- 
Ue,  had  communicated  to  all  under  tUr  ordera  m  lofty  aenU- 
nenta  of  duty  and  seal  aa  probablv  were  ever  found  amoop 
•o  equal  body  of  gencroua  and  anfent  young  men ;  but  it  la 
noleaay  to  diacovir  a  motive  why  the  eiploaion  ahould  have 
been  an  intentional  act  of  the  Americana,  and  it  la  eaay  to  dia- 
oover  many  why  it  ahould  not.  .„     .      /.  .^ 

Then  would  be  but  one  aufflcient  juatificatwp  for  >o  og^- 

aCaptaiiiliainbridfa'i  pc  Ivrta  JovmaL 


I 


(IKM. 
Mi,  with  oflo 

went  in  iht^ 
would  tith^r* 
mH  where  Iha 

wA  go^  very 
I  driftmi  clc«r 

thHt  thn  bo«t 
iniB  spot,  WM 
lh6  winii,  aod 
Mt  iniiy  have 
I  everywhere 
h«  ww»;k. 
W6  itro  left  to 
wnnl  bo*<,  Of 
pjj«,>ftr  to  have 
the  ttxptoaion, 
iprophated  to 

in  the  Coaarti. 
of  tlMs  offjoerj 
\  tho  blew  up. 
nemy's  vc»«ew 
ad,  with  theM 
no«a  ••  to  tlM 

ificing  h^mteir, 
trho  ever  lived, 
Id  not  deftrov 
»nt  rauon.  It 
by  the  enemy, 
I  tn  prerereooe 
alrous  explmU 
diring  of  Pre- 
I  u  loily  Mnti- 
•  found  anrtoB^ 
men;  but  it  » 
»n  ahould  have 
it  ie  eaiy  to  die- 
on  for  ao  oA- 


1M4] 


NATAL     IIIITORT. 


911 


for'*  •acriftciiig  hitnsrif  or  hi*  prop!«  under  »ufih  ci/cum. 
•l«nc«-«,  end  that  wm  iht^  impoMibilily  of  nravonting  thn  kntch 
fVom  IklliiiK  into  th«  heitdw  of  tho  rncmy,  by  any  other  m<«nii. 
N( itltf>r  the  «'•  idrncn  ofc^yc-wilnnwea,  »)  Ckt  as  it  i«  available, 
nor  thn  iwem.  nta  of  llm  'rriiiolitaiw  thimvurlvfii,  would  ii|)|)«<ar 
to  iiIk>w,  ibal  wh«n  tlie  lntrt>|)id  AX|ilod«Hl,  any  i;ncmy  wa«  iinar 
enough  to  render  no  ik-ajmrnte  a  «tcj>  luroaMry.  Acrording 
to  tho  privato  journal  of  t)«|.tain  Uainbri-lgt?,  writher  the  town 
nor  tho  Turka  luil^nHl  mnlorialh;,  and  he  waa  carried  to  the 
beaoh  lo  we  th<^  doiul  iHtdiea,  <>n  tho  Hth,  or  two  dnya  afler  (he 
atfair.  Thia  al'^tie  would  pnitn  that  the  kotch  did  not  n«(;h 
the  mole,  if  the  ohj«x't  wnro  nwrrly  to  d«'»troy  the  jxjwtksr, 
the  men  would  have  bw^n  proviounly  o.derod  into  tho  lioata, 
lAd,  even  under  circumatancea  tbel  rendered  a  reaort  to  the 
AiM]  inexpedient,  tho  train  would  have  been  uaod.  That  only 
one  itWiii  waa  in  the  larg^t  boat,  ia  known  from  the  condition 
in  which  nhe  waa  found,  and  thJH  could  hardly  have  haj)|)oned, 
utifjer  any  circunwtanrea,  had  the  irmgnxino  bof>ii  fir«<l  Inii'n- 
tional'/,  by  meana  of  the  train.  Bvery  contingency  had  doubt- 
leaa  ueen  /oreaeen.  ()nn  man  waa  ea  able  aa  twenty  to  apply 
the  match,  and  wo  cnn  aen  but  one  atato  of  thinga,  beaidw 
being  lioardMl  by  aurpriac,  that  would  render  it  likely  that  the 
match  would  have  U^en  uar-d  until  Iho  people  were  in  their 
boeta,  or  that  it  wo<dd  have  been  applied  at  any  other  apot,  than 
At  the  end  of  the  train,  or  aft.  A  aurpriae  of  tho  nature  men- 
tioned,  would  aeem  lo  have  been  impoaaibio ;  for,  though  the 
night  wan  miaty,  objecta  might  still  be  acen  at  aomo  little  dii' 
tanco,  and  it  ia  probable,  alao,  (hat  tho  party  had  glaaaes. 

From  woighins;  these  circiinwtnnc^'s,  it  ia  the  moat  ratioiMl 
opinion  that  the  Intnspid  woa  not  intentionally  biown  up.  8h* 
was  under  fire  at  the  time,  and  though  it  ia  improbable  that  the 
enemy  hod  any  ahot  heated  to  iicpcl  an  attack  ao  unexpected, 
a  cold  ahot  might  easily  have  firod  a  magazine  in  tho  situation 
of  that  of  the  Intrepicl.  The  deck  of  the  ketch,  moreover, 
was  covered  with  loaded  ahella,  and  <»ne  of  these  might  have 
been  atiuck  and  broken.  Some  other  unforeaeon  accident  may 
have  occunud.  On  the  other  hand,  it  ia  necessary  to  atate, 
that  Commodore  Preble  (irmly  believed  that  hie  oflloers  blew 
themselves  uji,  in  preference  to  beins  made  priaoners ;  an  opln- 
ion  in  which  it  would  not  bt>  difficult  to  coincide,  were  thero 

Eroof  that  fhoy  were  in  any  immediate  danger  of  such  a  ca« 
imity.    It  was  also  tb«  general  conjecture  in  the  squadron 
»tm>  before  Tripoli,  that  such  had  been  the  bte  of  tiMe  bold 


319 


NATAL    MHTO»» 


ItMi 


*"a*uT.  th«  province  of  tha  hirtorian  to  ,.r«»..t  •11  .h«  W- 
ing  fact,  of  hi.  .ubj«cl.  wo  .Imll  add.  on  iho  ^H^K,r  hnn.l.  lh.t 

IJhich  m-v  bo  thiHi-hi  u.  give.  f'.r««  to  th«  truih  ut  Uw  cum- 

conn«:tJd  with  what  wm  «*n  lr«m  «  vom«1  that  *«  ^'•'•h- 
inii  Iho  kntch.  though  it  w«  not  tho  .cho..»*r  n.«r,>.l  '.n.  On 
£ird  Ihi.  voii«>l  «  light  WM  ob-irvod  nrK.vmg  on  a  hon«.nl«l 
hTo  a^^if  .3h1  .wIiUv  along  a  ve««i;.  dock  by  «,.»«  one 
n  hurri.Hl  r,K..ion,  and  Ln  to  drop  .ud.tenly,  Uk«  ■  lanl«ni 
IS  bnooath  a  hatchway.  I,nm.Hlia.oly  a(U,rward.  .ho 
Kh  l^AoM,  and  at  .hat  pr«.«^  -,m...  wh.oh  -"Id  joom  to 
leave  no  douU  that  Ihi.  light  wa.  on  boanl  .h«.  In.rrp.d.  Hut 
LTcn  .hb  by  no  .n.«n.  cUbli.he.  .ho  fact  that  th«  ..xpU-.on 
w«  i«.l  onal.  Th«  .plintnr..  that  wort,  to  koop  tho  enemy 
St  d  "ot  U-«n  liKbLl,  and  .hi.  movnnvmt  with  tho  an- 
!em  iwy  b«vo  U^-m.  inu.ndcd  to  llro  th«.n,  an.l  may  havo  had 
•oim  aocidonUl  connexion  with  the  explomon 

In  addition  to  thi.  appearance  ol  .ho  light,  which  re.t.  oo 
teat  mony  every  w..y  entitled  to  roapect.  there  wa.  a  r,.|«rt 
Uo^uAT  by  the  prim>norH.  .hen  in  Tripoli,  when  hberated. 
?Z  which  another  .upp«.i.>on  ha.  been  rorimK  "  to  tl«  fato 
of  thi.  devoted  vo.«.',  .hat  U  not  w.lhout  n|au.ib.l..v.  It  wa. 
2ud    haTmoat  of  the  bodio.   found   haJ   rtxcvc^  gun-.hot 

roundJe-T^Wly  Oo"*  8"P«-    ^"^  ^^^  l-"  l^""^"'"'  T 
rrr»::;iTf>aviJ«  h«d  rho'.n«illjnr»in.  of  n-k-.  pa«U. 

loon,  on  il.  and  it  wa.  a\m  reported  that  the  halt  wm  of  • 
deep  black.  Through  .h..  r^nwn.  ^^o^:"^^':^  J^'*;"; 
lew  than  thtw)  grap«-.hol  had  pawed.  Ihi.  ha.  beer,  .up- 
S)d  ,0  have  bSsn  the  My  of  Up.ain  Soiner.  h.m.e  f.  who 
J3he  only  one  of  .»«.  pt  rtv  that  wore  nankeen.,  and  who|jo 
haTr  wL  of  a  deep  black  On  the  i«|.po.itK)n  thattho  proof, 
of  hrgrapcbo.  wound,  actually  exi..ed.  it  ha.  b«en  conjoc. 
?ured  tLra-  the  ketch  advamxd.  .ho  wa.  firod  into  with 
^  moit^f  her  people  .ho.  down,  and  that  .h«  ma^izme 
SS^iuS  off  by  tho  two  whom,  bodie.  were  found  .n  the 

It  i.  mwo'^tx.bk.  lh.t  th.  h.lr  would  l..vo  bwn  wMumwi    8UU  a  bat 
way  hav.  Mv«d  U. 


(IHM. 

irmsil  St  th« 

I  w«nl  In  wM 

it  l«d  MlU* 

It  ill  «h«  lonil- 
or  h<in<l,  thnt 
ive  occurn*!, 
I  of  (ha  cum* 
k1  of  thoM,  i» 
at  wna  wattrh* 
<«n<«t  in.  <)n 
n  a  horizontal 

by  tunin  uno 
like  a  lantern 
ilkrwunU  I  ho 
wDuliI  •"•'tn  to 
Intrr|iid.     Hut 

tho  (ixiilonion 
»p  tho  on«smy 
t  with  the  Ian- 
may  havo  had 

which  n)«t»  on 
B  wna  a  rejtort 
IV  hen  liberated, 
[h1  oa  to  tlie  fate 
libility.  It  wan 
■eivcd   Hun-thot 

(Mirticular,  was 
nankeon  panla- 
hair*  waa  of  a 
iu  iho  report,  no 
I  haa  been  aup- 
ra  himself,  who 
cenH,  and  whoac 
1  that  the  proofa 
haa  bocn  conjoc- 

fired  into  with 
It  tha  maf^zine 
ire  found  in  the 

baoi  obMrvsd,  bat 
iuro«d.    8UU  a  bat 


IMM.) 


NAV  AL    NISTORV. 


313 


wreck,  and  who  w«ru  probably  Iwlnw  wh<<n  tlm  Intrfpid  ox> 
foiled. 

That  a  ckian  Art)  waa  i)|mncd  whrn  thn  kiflrh  np|irnn^,  ia 
bayood  donbl,  and  that  iltu  won  i|uito  ncnr  lh«  mold  and  iMiwn 
hatlariaa  wh«a  the  mpkMion  iM-i-iirrfd,  i«  known,  not  only  by 
nN«na  of  lh«  Rlaaa,  but  by  (hn  partn  of  the  wr«ck  thnt  fnil  oft 
the  rorkn.  Indnrd,  th<i  mtuation  of  tho  latter  would  give  rtia* 
■on  to  MupfKHH)  ihttrn  miKht  Imi  noiiio  truth  in  (ho  rumour  thnt 
nhn  had  K''<>undml,  in  which  rnim  hrr  de*lruclion  by  nwiana  of 
ahot  ^fould  have  \tern  r«-nil(<rt?d  c^'rtain. 

Tho  pravrtenl  <f)inion  that  the  Intrepid  won  bonrdud  by  on<t^ 
or  more  ol  th^  ((un-tHiaia  that  Iny  rionr  tho  (<ntmn<'«,  would 
iir(!m  to  havo  been  entertained  without  mirttcirnt  proof.  Th«<M) 
veaaola  lay  om«  diaiamu*  within  th«)  «(k»I  wht'ro  tho  kntch  blew 
up,  and  it  waa  not  prolmblo  thnt  Ihoy  would  havn  advnncv'd  to 
ineet  a  veuel  entering  thv  harlMiur ;  for  did  they  ■uptMMe  her 
a  friend,  ther«  would  have  been  no  motivo ;  and  did  tn»)y  lup- 
poac  her  an  enemy,  they  would  have  lieen  much  mora  likely 
to  avoid  her.  Bo  ihy,  indeed,  had  the  Tripolitona  IxTome, 
ofter  the  burning  of  tho  fhilndelohia,  and  the  WMinling  of  their 
liiMta,  (hat  it  waa  found  extremely  <lifricult  to  gt.*t  their  imall 
veaaola  within  the  range  of  muaket^balla.  Captain  Homer* 
waa  known  to  havo  felt  no  apprehcniiona  of  being  |joarde«l  by 
theae  three  boata ;  for,  when  cautioned  by  hi*  friend  Decatur 
on  that  head,  hi*  onawer  waa,  "  they  will  bo  more  likely  to 
cut  and  run."  Fn  this  opinion  that  cool  and  olm^rvnnt  omcor 
waa  proliably  right.  Mad  tlioro  boon  any  voaaol  near  tho  In- 
trepid when  ahfl  blow  up,  tho  light  of  the  exploaion  would  have 
permitted  her  also  to  be  men  {  aome  portiona  of  her  wreck 
would  have  been  visible  next  day ;  and  her  maata  and  aaila 
would  probably  have  been  flying  in  the  air,  aa  well  aa  thooa 
of  tho  ketch. 

But  tho  fact  that  only  thirteen  boHiea  are  spoken  of  in  the 
private  journal  of  Contain  Bainbridge,  ia  almoat  conclusive 
on  the  subject  that  no  Tripolitan  vessel  waa  blown  up  on  thia 
occasion.  Thia  entry  was  made  at  tho  time,  and  bcforo  the 
nature  of  tho  expedition,  or  tho  number  of  thaw  who  hod  been 
sent  in  the  ketch,  waa  known  to  tho  Americana  in  Tripoli.  The 
thirteen  bodiea  account  exactly  for  all  on  board ;  and  aa  they 
came  ashore  in  a  most  mutilated  atato,  without  ctothea,  in  some 
instances  without  legs,  arma,  or  heads,  it  was  impoasiblo  to 
aay  whether  they  wore  the  mangled  remains  of  friends  or 
enemiei.    Had  a  Tripolitan  blown  up  in  company,  there  must 


^^i 


214 


NAVAL     HIBTOEY. 


[1801 


i,»v«  Wn  manv  more  bodies  in  the  same  stale,  instead  of  the 
S^nu:KnS.ned,  and  Capjia  Bai„bridge  w^ld  bavo 
been  as  likely  to  be  taken  to  see  a  dead  Turk,  as  to  see  a  deaa 

^ThTiSissing  gun-boat,  of  which  Commodore  Preble  -peaks 
in  his  re^rSay  have  been  sunk  by  a  falling  shell ;  she  may 
have  S  shStered  and  hauled  into  the  gal  loymole,  outof 
St  -or  she  may  have  removed  in  the  darkness,  and  been 
"cJntundcd  nLrmLing  with  others  of  the^tiUa     Objerva- 
tions  made,  by  means  of  glasses,  ma  crowded  po^.  f^  »  "^J^ 
tLnce  of  two  or  three  miles,  are  liable  to  many  «"0"-J^ 
short  it  would  seem  to  be  the  better  opmion,  that,  fro™  ««"^ 
uSurd  cTrcumstunce,  the  Intrepid  exdoded  at  a  pomt  where 
ahA  did  little  or  no  injury  to  the  enemy. 
""  of  hrS  thingi  s^ms  to  be  highly  preUble.  con^nmg 
this^fong-disputed  ,^int.    The  ketch  has  either  explode   by 
Zins  of  the  enemVs  shot,  than  «'^<^h,  nothing  was  easier  m 
thrsituation  where  she  lay ;  the  men  have  accidentally  fired 
tSe  ma^Sne,  while  preparing  to  light  the  -pl'-;?"  ^'^ '  °J 
t  has  teen  done  intenUonally,  in  <^«r«"?«  f.^'^'^^Son 
condition  to  which  the  party  was  reduced,  by  the  d^trucUon 
caused  by  grape.    Of  the  three,  after  weighmg  all  the  circum- 
SS^.  Itif^ural  to  believe  that  the  first  was  the  most  pro. 
toWras  i;  was  certainly  easier  tojcause  a  vessel  Idee  the 

•  Th.  .ninr  in  the  prWats  ioomsl  of  CapUin  Bwnbridfe, U  m  f«^»l 
« wl  infoSJd  S"tTe  «So«on  that  5e  heard  If.-^'jJ.  P'«^, 
«  Was  »n™''?*!~.rV,r  aJ^^^        attempted  to  tend  into  the  harbour,) 

SSber  ISuT  Owing  to  tl.il.  circun»U.noe.  ho  ,no.t  neoewarily  have  been 
ignorant  of  facU  that  were  HubaoquonUy  ascerlamed. 


(1801 

atead  of  the 
I  would  havo 
10  see  a  dead 

reble  speaks 
all ;  she  may 
nole,  out  of 
IS,  and  been 
I,  Observa- 
trt,  at  a  dis- 
f  errors.  In 
t,  from  some 
I  point  where 

0,  concerning 
exploded  by 
was  easier  in 
dentally  fixed 
ere  below ;  or 
'  the  desperate 
He  destruction 
lU  the  circum- 
the  most  pro- 
essel  like  the 

lg«,uufoUowt: 
night,  proceeded 
nto  the  hwbbur,) 
whatever  to  the 
anflwioik"    **  On 
— ,  went  to  the 
ooet  mtnglcd  and 
to  have  been  pert 
'  which  grounded 
Two  oftheee  die. 
htm  the  whole  of 
ogniManv  known 
an.  Mr.Cowdery. 
lers  yeeteiday,  on 
kve  coine  from  the 
in  eix-oaied  bnet, 
the  weetward." 
of  the  fcte  of  tho 
1  left  Tripoli  aoon 
ited  at  Malta,  Sep- 
oewarily  hate  been 


1804.] 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


915 


Intrepid,  with  a  hundred  barrels  of  loose  powder  in  her  maga* 
zinc,  to  explode  by  means  of  shot,  than  to  cause  a  vessel  like 
No.  8,  which  is  known  to  have  been  blown  up,  in  this  manner,  in 
the  action  of  tho  7th  of  August.  As  regards  the  grape-shot 
wounds,  it  will  be  scon  that  Captain  liainbridge  is  silent. 

A  sad  ond  solemn  mystery,  after  all  our  conjectures,  must 
for  ever  veil  the  fate  of  those  fearless  officers  and  their  hardy 
followers.  In  whatever  light  we  view  the  affair,  they  were  the 
victims  of  that  self-devotion  which  causes  the  seaman  and  sol- 
dier to  hold  his  life  in  his  hand,  when  the  honour  or  interest  of 
his  country  demands  the  socrifice.  The  name  of  Somen  has 
passed  into  a  battle-cry,  in  the  American  marine,  while  thoee 
of  Wadsworth  and  Israel  are  associated  with  all  that  can  oi- 
noble  intrepidity,  coolness,  and  daring. 

The  war,  in  one  sgiimo,  terminated  with  this  scene  of  sublime 
destruction.  CJommodoro  Preble  hud  consu*  led  so  much  of 
his  powder,  in  tho  previous  attacks,  that  it  was  no  longer  in  his 
power  to  cannonade ;  and  tho  season  was  fast  getting  to  be 
dangerous  to  remain  on  thot  exposed  coast.  The  guns,  mor- 
tars, shells,  &c.,  were  taken  out  of  the  small  vessels,  on  ac- 
count of  the  appearanoe  of  the  weather,  the  day  after  the  loss 
of  the  Intrepid ;  and  on  the  7th,  the  John  Adams,  Siren,  Nau- 
tilus, Enterprise,  and  Scourge,  were  directed  to  take  the  bom- 
bards and  gun-boats  in  tow,  and  to  proceed  to  Syracuse ;  while 
the  Ck>nstitution,  with  the  Argus  and  Vixen  in  company,  main- 
tained the  blockade.  It  is  not  known  that  another  shot  was 
fired  at  Tripoli. 

Three  days  later,  or  on  the  10th  of  September,  1804,  the  Pre- 
sident 44,  wearing  the  broad  pennant  of  Commodore  Barron, 
hove  in  sight,  with  the  Ck>nstellation  38,  Captain  Campbell,  in 
comimny,  when  the  command  was  regularly  transferred  to  the 
former  officer.  On  the  12th,  two  sail  were  cut  off,  while  at- 
tempting to  enter  Tripoli  loaded  with  wheat.  On  the  17th,  the 
Constitution  reached  Malta,  with  the  two  prizes ;  and  subse- 
quently, Ck>mmodore  Preble  went  to  Syracuse  in  the  Argus. 
At  a  later  day,  he  came  home  in  the  John  Adams,  where  he 
arrived  on  the  86th  of  February,  1806.  In  the  mean  time, 
Captain  Decatur  proceeded  to  Malta  and  took  command  of  the 
Constitution,  which  was  the  first  frigate  this  celebrated  officer 
ever  had  under  his  ordera. 

The  country  flilly  appreciated  the  services  of  Commodore 
Preble.  He  had  united  oautran  and  daring  in  a  way  to  denote 
the  highest  military  qualities ;  and  his  succ^s  in  general,  had 


216 


NAVAL    HISTORT. 


(1804. 


been  in  proportion.  The  aUack  of  the  Intrepid,  the  only  ma- 
terial  faflure  in  any  of  his  enterprisoa,  was  well  arranged,  and 
had  it  succeeded,  it  would  probably  have  produced  peace  in 
twenty.four  hours.  As  it  was,  the  bashaw  was  well  enough 
disposed  to  treat,  though  he  seems  to  have  entered  into  some 
calculations  in  the  way  of  money,  that  induced  him  to  hope 
the  AmcricAns  would  still  reduce  their  policy  to  the  level  of 
his  own,  and  prefer  paying  ransom  to  maintaining  cruisers  so 
far  from  home.  Commodore  Preble,  and  all  the  officers  and 
men  under  his  orders,  received  the  thanks  of  Congress,  and  a 
sold  iqedal  was  bestowed  on  the  former.  By  the  same  reso- 
lution. Congress  expressed  the  sympathy  of  the  nation  in  be- 
half of  the  relatives  of  Captain  Richard  Sonjers,  Lieutenants 
Henry  Wadsworlh,  James  Decatur,  James  R.  Caldwell,  and 
Joseph  Israel,  and  Mr.  John  Sword  Dorsey,  midshipman  {  the 
officers  killed  off  Tripoli. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Thi  squadron  left  in  the  Mediterranean,  under  the  orders 
of  Commodore  Barron,  after  the  departure  of  Commodore 
Preble,  was  much  the  strongest  force  that  the  country  had  then 
assembled  in  that  sea.  It  consisted  of  the  following  vessels, 
viz.: 

President 44,    Capt.  Cox;  Com.  Barron. 

Constitution 44,       ••    Decatur. 

Congress 88,       "    Rodgers. 

Constellation 38,       "    Campbell. 

Essex 83,       "    J.  Barron. 

Siren 16,       "    Stewart. 

Argus 16,       ••    Hull. 

Vixen 12,       "    Smith. 

Enterprise 13,    Lieut.  Com.  Robinson. 

Nautilus 13,       "        "     Dent. 

The  blockade  of  Tripoli  was  maintained  by  difierent  vessels 
during  the  bad  season  of  1804-5 ;  but  no  attack  was  attempted, 
although  preparations  wen  made  to  renew  the  war  in  the 
spring.  One  of  the  first  measures  of  Commodore  Preble,  <»i 
reaching  America,  was  to  urge  upon  the  government  the  ne- 
ceaaity  of  building  suitable  bomb-ketches,  and  a  few  gun-boata 


(1804. 

:he  odIv  ma- 
rranged,  and 
ied  peace  in 
well  enough 
id  into  some 
him  to  hope 
the  level  of 
g  cruisers  so 
)  officers  and 
igress,  and  a 
,e  same  reso- 
aation  in  be> 
,  Lieutenants 
laldwell,  and 
hipman;  the 


1604.] 


NAVAL    HIBTORT. 


217 


ler  the  orders 
'  Commodore 
intry  had  then 
>wing  vessels, 

n.  Barron. 


>biiu»n. 
int. 

fierent  vessels 
vas  attempted, 
le  war  in  the 
ore  Preble,  on 
'nment  the  ne- 
few  gun-boatt 


fitted  to  cannonade  a  place  like  Tripoli.  His  advice  was  fol- 
lowed,  the  vessels  being  immediately  laid  down ;  but  it  being 
found  impossiblo  to  have  the  ketches  ready  in  time,  the  two 
vessels  before  mentioned,  were  purchased,  strengthened,  and 
equipped  as  bombards. 

In  November,  Cajptain  Rodgers,  as  the  senior  officer,  was 
put  in  command  of  the  Constitution,  while  Captain  Decatur 
was  transferred  to  the  Congress.  The  winter  and  spring 
passed  in  this  manner,  the  blockade  bning  maintained  with 
vigour,  most  of  the  time,  though  no  event  worthy  of  note  oc- 
curred off  the  port.  While  matters  remained  in  this  state  with 
the  ships,  a  movement  by  land  was  in  the  course  of  execution, 
that  must  now  be  recorded,  as  it  is  intimately  connected  with 
the  history  of  the  war. 

It  has  been  said  already,  that  Jussuf  Caramalli,  the  reigning 
pacha,  or  bashaw  of  Tripoli,  was  a  usurper,  having  deposed 
his  elder  brother  Haniet,  m  order  to  obtain  the  throne.  The 
latter  had  escaped  from  the  regency,  and,  aAer  passing  a  wan- 
dering life,  he  had  taken  refuge  among  the  Mamelukes  of 
Egypt.  It  had  often  6een  suggested  to  the  American  agents, 
that  the  deposed  prince  might  be  made  useful  in  carrying  on 
the  war  against  the  usurper ;  and  at  difierent  times,  several 
projects  had  been  entertained  to  that  effect,  though  never  with 
any  results.  At  length,  Mr.  Eaton,  the  consul  at  Tunis,  who 
had  been  a  captain  m  the  army,  mterested  himself  in  the  en- 
terprise ;  and  coming  to  America,  he  so  far  prevailed  on  the 
government  to  lend  itself  to  his  views,  as  to  obtain  a  species 
of  indirect  support.  Commodore  Barron  was  directed  to'co- 
operate  with  Mr.  Eaton,  as  far  as  he  might  deem  it  discreet. 

When  the  new  squadron  anived  out,  it  was  accordingly  as- 
certained where  the  ez-bashaw  was  to  be  found,  and  Mr.  Ea- 
ton at  once  commawed  his  operations.  Two  or  three  days 
after  Commodore  Barron  had  assumed  the  command  before 
Tripoli,  he  sent  the  Argus  16,  Captain  Hull,  with  that  pntle- 
man  to  Alexandria,  wIkto  he  arrived  on  the  26th  of  Novem- 
ber. On  the  29th,  Mr.  Eaton,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant 
O'Bannon,  of  the  marines,  iL'd  Messrs.  Mann  and  Danielson, 
two  midshipmen  of  the  squadron,  proceeded  to  Rosetta,  and 
thence  to  Cairo.  The  viceroy  of  Egypt  received  them  with 
favour,  and  permission  was  obtained  tot  the  prince  of  Tripoli 
to  pass  out  of  the  country  unmolested,  though  he  had  heea 
fiffhting  against  the  government,  with  the  discontented  Mame- 
lues. 

10 


JlZI^ 


218 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[1805. 


Aa  soon  as  Hamet  Caramalli  received  the  proposals  of  Mr. 
Eaton,  ho  separated  himself  from  tho  Mamelukes,  attended  by 
about  forty  loliowers,  and  repaired  to  a  point  twolvo  leagues 
to  the  westward  of  the  old  jwrt  of  Alexandria.     Here  ho  was 
soon  joined  by  Mr.  Eaton,  at  tho  head  of  a  small  troop  ol  ad- 
venturers,  whom  he  had  obtained  in  Egypt.    This  party  was 
composed  of  all  nations,  though  Mr.  Eaton  expressed  hw  be- 
lief,  at  tho  time,  that  had  ho  possessed  tho  means  of  subsist- 
en4,  he  might  have  marehed  a  Ixxly  of  30,000  men  against 
Tripoli,  tho  reigning  bashaw  having  forced  so  many  ot  his 
■ubjectw  into  banishment.    Soon  after  the  junction  agreed 
upon,  Mr.  Eaton,  who  now  assumed  tho  title  of  general, 
marched  in  the  direction  of  Derne,  taking  the  route  across  the 
Desert  of  Barca.    This  was  early  in  1806. 

The  Argus  ha-'  turned  to  Malta  for  orders  and  stores,  and 
on  the  2d  of  Api  .he  re-appeared  off  Bomba,  with  the  Hor- 
net  10,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Evans,  in  company.  Cruis- 
ing on  this  coast  a  few  days,  without  obtaining  any  intelligence 
of  General  Eaton  and  the  bashaw,  Captain  Hull  steered  to  the 
westward,  and,  a  few  leagues  to  tho  eastward  of  Derne,  he 
fell  in  with  the  Nautilus,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Dent,  uo 
communicating  with  this  vessel,  which  was  lying  close  in  with 
the  shore,  Captain  Hull  ascertained  that  the  expedition  was  on 
the  coast,  and  that  it  waited  only  for  the  arms  and  supplies 
that  had  been  brought,  to  attack  Derne,  from  which  town  it 
was  but  a  league  distant.  A  field-piece  was  landed,  together 
with  some  stores  and  muskets,  and  a  few  marines  appear  to 
have  been  put  under  the  orders  of  Mr.  O'Bannon,  of  the  corps, 
when  the  vessels  took  their  stations  to  aid  m  the  attack. 

It  was  2,  P.  M.,  on  the  27th  of  April,  1806,  that  this  assault, 
so  novel  for  Americans  to  be  engaged  in,  in  the  other  hemi- 
sphere, was  commenced.  The  Hornet,  Lieutenant  Command- 
ant Evans,  having  run  close  in,  and  anchored  with  springs  on 
her  cables,  within  pistol-shot  of  a  battery  of  eight  guns,  opened 
her  fire.  The  Nautilus  lay  at  a  little  distance  to  the  eastward, 
and  the  Argus  still  further  in  tho  same  direction,  the  two  latter 
firing  on  the  town  and  battery.  In  ^bout  an  hour,  the  enemy 
were  driven  from  the  work,  when  all  the  vessels  directed  their 
guns  at  the  beach,  io  clear  the  way  for  tho  advance  of  the 
party  on  shore.  The  enemy  made  an  irregular  but  spirited 
defence,  keeping  up  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry,  as  the  assail- 
ants  advanced,  from  behind  houses  and  walls.  At  hall-past  J, 
however,  Lieutenant  O'Bannon  and  Mr.  Mann  stormed  tho 


^Wv. 


i  ^'ifeL'jiUHSr^it'^ 


ss 


[1805. 

KMaIn  of  Mr. 
9,  attended  by 
nrelvo  leagues 
Here  ho  was 
11  troop  of  ad- 
liis  purty  wa» 
resBcd  hiN  be- 
ns of  subsist- 
)  men  ogainst 
I  many  of  his 
notion  agreed 
le  of  general, 
)uto  across  the 

ind  stores,  and 

with  the  Hor- 
ipnny.  Cruis- 
ny  intelligence 
I  steered  to  the 

of  Derne,  he 
int  Dent.  Od 
g  Close  in  with 
ledition  was  on 
IS  and  supplies 

which  town  it 
inded,  together 
rines  appear  to 
n,  of  the  corps, 
s  attack. 
Iiat  this  assault, 
he  other  hemi- 
lant  Ck>mmand- 
with  springs  on 
ht  guns,  opened 
:o  the  eastward, 
n,  the  two  latter 
our,  the  enemy 
Is  directed  their 
advance  of  the 
liar  but  spirited 
r,  as  the  assail- 

At  half-past  3, 
m  stormed  the 


1805.]  NAVAL     HISTORY.  219 

principal  work,  hauling  down  tho  Tripolitan  ensign,  and,  for 
the  first  time  in  tho  history  of  tho  country,  hoisting  that  of 
the  a'public  on  a  fortress  of  tho  old  world.  Tho  enemy  wore 
driven  out  of  this  work  with  so  much  nrccipitntion,  that  they 
loft  ito  guns  loaded,  and  even  primed.  Tho  cunnon  wore  im- 
mediately turned  upon  tho  town,  ond  Ilamct  Caramalli  having 
made  a  lodgment  on  the  other  side,  so  as  to  bring  tho  enemy 
between  two  fiies,  the  place  submitted.  At  4  o'clock,  tho  boats 
of  tho  vessels  londed  with  ammunition  for  tho  guns  and  to 
bring  off  tho  wounded,  Demo  being  completely  in  possession 
of  the  assailants. 

In  this  affair,  only  14  of  the  assailants  were  killed  and 
wounded.  General  Eaton  being  among  tho  latter.  The  attack 
was  made  by  about  1200  men,  while  the  place  r/as  supposed 
to  be  defended  by  three  or  four  thousand.  One  or  two  at- 
tempts  were  made  by  tho  Tripolitans,  to  regain  possession,  but 
they  were  cosily  repulsed,  and,  on  one  occasion,  with  some 
loss.  The  deposed  bashaw  remained  in  possession  of  tho 
town,  and  his  authority  was  partially  recognised  in  the  pro- 
vince. General  Eaton  now  earnestly  pressed  Commodore  Bar- 
ron for  further  supplies  and  reinforcements,  with  a  view  to 
march  on  Tripoli ;  but  they  were  denied,  on  the  ground  that 
Hamet  Caramalli  was  in  possession  of  the  second  province  of 
the  regency,  and  if  he  had  the  influence  that  he  p->tended  to 
possess,  he  ought  to  be  iil)le  to  effect  his  object  by  means  of 
the  ordinary  co-operation  of  the  squadron. 

On  the  2ad  of  May  Commodore  Barron  transferred  the  coin- 
mand,  on  account  of  ill  health.  The  entire  force  under  this 
now  disposition,  when  tho  vessels  known  to  be  about  to  sail 
should  arrive,  would  be  as  follows : 

Constitution. . .  .44, Com.  Rodgers. 

President 44, Capt.  Cox. 

Constellation ...  38, "    Campbell. 

Congress 88, "    Decatur. 

Essex 32, "    J.  Barron. 

John  Adams ...  28, "    Chauncey. 

Siren 16, "    Stewart. 

Argus 16, "    Hull. 

Vixen 12, «    Smith. 

Nautilus 12, Lieut.  Com.  Dent. 

Enterprise 12, «^         '  Robinson. 

Hornet 12 "        "  Evans. 


mMii 


S20 


Bombd 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[IMS 


Oun-boats. 


(  Vcnacanco Liout.  Com.  Lewis, 

Jspitfiro "  M'Niell. 

No.    2 1  gun, "  laard. 

3 a    " "  Maxwell. 

4 a    " "  J.  D.  Henley. 

5 a    " "  Horrison. 

«« "  Lawrence. 

" "  Flarradon. 

" "  Elbert. 


it 
ii 
II 
II 
II 
II 


6. 

8. 

e. 

10. 


.2 
.2 

.a 

.2    " ••    Carter. 


«     11 1 

"     12 1 


II 
II 


^11 

II 


Shortly  after  assuming  the  command,  Commodore  Rodgcrs 
transferred  Captain  J.  Borron  from  the  Essex  Ji  to  the 
President  44,  giving  the  former  ship  to  Captain  Cox,  who  was 
only  a  master  and  commander. 

Negotiations  for  peace  now  commenced  in  earnest,  Mr. 
Lear  having  arrived  off  Tripoli,  for  that  purpose,  in  (he  Essex, 
Captain  Barron.  After  the  usual  intrigues,  delays,  and  pre- 
varications, a  treaty  was  signed  on  the  3d  of  June,  1806.  By 
this  treaty,  no  tribute  was  to  be  paid  in  future,  but  9ti0,000 
were  given  by  America,  for  the  ransom  of  the  remaining 
prisoners,  after  exchanging  the  Tripolitans  in  her  power,  man 
for  man. 

Thus  terminated  the  war  with  Tripoli,  after  an  existence  of 
four  years.  It  is  probable  that  the  United  States  would  have 
retained  in  service  some  oflicers,  and  would  have  kept  up  a 
small  force,  had  not  this  contest  occurred ;  but  its  influence  on 
the  fortunes  and  character  of  the  navy  is  incalculable.  It 
saved  the  first,  in  a  degree  at  least,  and  it  may  be  said  to  have 
formed  the  last. 


9BI 


mil  !w  luiiaiiimiJglSSSS!" 


inrt 


[1805 


1809.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


331 


9W1S. 

'Niell. 
ard. 
ax  well. 
U.  Henley, 
arrison. 
awrcnco. 
arradon. 
Ibort. 
arter. 


doro  Rodgera 
X  'Ji  to  the 
^x,  who  waa 

earnest,  Mr. 

in  (he  Essex, 
lays,  and  pre* 
e,  1806.    By 

but  960,000 
he  remaining 
T  power,  man 

(1  existence  of 
is  would  have 
nve  kept  up  a 
s  influence  on 
^ilculable.  It 
e  said  to  have 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Tub  business  at  Tripoli  was  no  sooner  completed,  than  Com- 
modore Rodgors  sailed  with  thirteen  vessels,  gun-boaU  iuslud- 
cd,  and  anchored  in  Tunis  Bay  on  the  1st  ol"  August.  This 
movement  was  made  in  consequence  of  a  dispute  concerning 
a  xebeck  captured  by  the  Constitution,  for  endeavouring  to  vio- 
lato  the  recent  blockade  in  company  with  her  prizes.  As  soon 
&s  the  consul  had  repaired  on  board  and  communicated  the 
state  of  things  in  the  regency,  a  council  of  war  was  called. 
The  result  was  a  letter  to  the  Bey,  demanding  to  know  if  a 
declaration  made  to  the  consul,  in  which  he  had  said  that  the 
appearance  of  the  American  squadron  off  his  port  would  bo 
considered  as  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  was  to  bo  taken 
literally  or  not.  In  this  letter  the  Bey  wos  given  to  under- 
stand,  in  the  plainest  manner,  thot  hostilities  would  commence 
on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  within  thirty-six  hours,  should 
he  dechne  answering,  or  neglect  the  application. 

The  Bey,  accustomed  to  regard  the  Americans  as  tributa- 
ries, had  been  seeking  a  cause  for  war,  when  he  was  suddenly 
met  by  this  high  tone  on  the  part  of  those  whom  he  had  hither- 
to found  so  much  disposed  to  temporise.  At  first  he  appeared 
to  place  no  feith  in  the  demonstration,  and  the  required  an- 
swer was  not  gent.  Commodore  Rodgers,  in  consequence, 
directed  Captain  Decatur  to  land,  to  demand  an  audience  of 
the  Bey,  and  to  obtain  an  unequivocal  solution  of  the  question 
of  peace  or  war. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Bey  regarded  this  mission  as  one  of  a 
doubtful  nature,  also ;  for  he  refused  to  receive  Captain  Deca- 
tur in  the  character  Jn  which  he  had  been  sent.  That  s'girited 
officer,  little  accustomed  to  temporising,  declined  being  admit- 
ted in  any  other.  As  soon  as  the  intentions  of  both  parties 
had  been  explained.  Captain  Decatur  returned  on  board,  when 
"  the  royal  breast "  of  the  Bey  "  appeared  to  be  panic-struck.' 
A  letter  was  sent  to  the  commodore,  signed  by  the  pacha  him- 
self, in  which  he  expressed  a  desire  to  treat,  and  using  the 
most  pacific  language.  Shortly  afler  he  announced  a  wish  to 
send  a  minister  to  Washington.  This  moderated  tone  put  an 
end  to  the  threatened  hostilities,  and  afler  a  negotiation  that 
19» 


niw 


mmttft 


2Xi 


NATAL     H18T0RT. 


(1805. 


lasted  nearly  o  month,  the  nflbir  wan  utniwA  with  tho  re- 
ucncv,  t<.  tho  gatinlHction  of  ntw  of  the  \miwn  ot  lcn»t.  I  ho 
5c»)cck  wft«  not  uivon  u|..  In  Hcpt.inU^r,  u  runi.mn  ornba.. 
tador  cinburkod  in  tho  CongrcM  IM,  (^aptu.n  l)f>cntur,  and  in 
due  time  ho  wa«  liindod  at  WaHhiiiRton. 

Commodoro  Uodgcrs  remained  in  Tunis  Itav  more  than  a 
month,  htcrolly  negotiating  under  tho  muMlcsol  his  guns,  and 
the  rwiult  proved  the  wisdom  of  tho  course  ho  had  tnkon.     1  ho 
navy,  tho  ablest  of  all  negotiotors  in  such  mollcm,  had  com- 
pletely reversed  tho  ancient  order  of  things;  for,  instead  of  an 
Am«irK»n  ogcnt's  being  compelled  to  solicit  tho  rcstorotion  o\ 
nrtxes,  illegally  taken,  in  Africa,  on  African  ag«mt  was  now 
•diciting  tho  restoration  of  prizes  legally  captured,  in  America. 
At  a  later  day,  the  xebcck  and  her  prizes  were  given  up,  a. 
of  no  moment;  but  when  tho  Tunisian  minister  added  a  do- 
mand  for  tribute,  ngrocobly  to  former  usage,  ho  met  with  an 
explicit  denial.    After  o  short  residence,  ho  returned  to  his 
master  with  the  latter  answer,  but  tho  Boy  did  not  soo  fit  to 
take  any  steps  in  consequence.    Tho  impression  made  by  tho 
attacks  on  Tripoli,  and  by  tho  appearance  of  tto  American 
squadron  before  his  own  town,  would  seem  to  have  been  last- 

'"After  the  settloment  of  tho  disnuto  with  Tunis,  the  vessels 
in  the  Mediterranean  were  gradually  withdrawn,  though  it  was 
still  deemed  necessary  to  keep  a  small  squodron  in  that  sea. 
The  government  also  became  lietter  apprised  of  the  nature  ol 
the  force  that  was  required,  in  carrying  on  a  war  with  tho 
Barbary  states,  and  several  new  vessels  were  put  into  the  water 
obout  this  time,  among  which  were  two  regularly  constructed 
bombards,  the  Etna  and  the  Vesuvius.  Two  'loops  of  war, 
of  tho  most  approved  models,  were  also  built,  and  became  ac- 
tive cruisers  on  the  peace  establishment.  These  vessels  wore 
the  Wasp  18,  and  the  Hornet  18,  tho  former  being  a  ship  and 

the  latter  a  brig.  . .      .        u  _ 

The  condition  of  tho  navy  may  be  said  to  have  been  nega- 
tive at  the  period  of  which  we  at«  now  writing ;  for,  while  all 
who  reflected  seriously  on  the  subject,  felt  the  necessity  of 
oreatly  increasing  this  branch  of  tho  national  defence,  nothing 
efficient  was  attempted,  or,  apparently,  contemn  ated.  Ships 
of  the  line,  without  which  it  would  bo  impossible  to  ?">*«« 
any  of  oven  the  secondary  maritime  states  of  Europe  llrom 
blockading  the  ports  of  the  country,  wore  now  scarce  X  men- 
tioned,  and  the  material  that  had  been  collected  for  that  o^» 


[1805. 

witli  tho  re' 

Icnst.    Tho 

liiun  amboa* 

catur,  and  in 

moro  thnn  a 
hia  guns,  and 
taken.  Tho 
ini,  had  com* 
inntrad  of  on 
vstoratinn  of 
t;nt  was  now 
,  in  America, 
given  up,  u 
r  added  a  de< 
mot  with  aa 
turned  to  hit 
not  nco  fit  to 
I  mado  by  the 
ite  American 
avo  boon  last* 

the  veasols 
though  it  was 
n  in  that  sea. 
tho  nature  of 
war  with  tho 
into  the  water 
ly  constructed 
iloops  of  war, 
nd  became  ac- 
10  vessels  wore 
ing  a  ship  and 

ive  been  nega* 
for,  while  all 
le  necessity  of 
sfence,  nothing 
iplated.  Ships 
ibie  to  prevent 
r  EuroM  fVom 
scarcelv  men- 
ted  for  that  ob>' 


leo&i 


NAVAL     HIITORT. 


333 


iect  in  IHOO,  wcro  rapidly  (li«at)|Mmrir,g  for  tho  pnrposen  of 
repairs  and  ro-constructions.     It  i«,  indood,  diilicuit  lo  iiiunjino 
a  policy  as  short-sighted  and  fooblo,  as  that  pursued  by  Con- 
gnws  at  this  pnrticulor  juncture.     With  politicol  relations  that 
w«;ro  never  free  from  tho  appearance*  of  hostilities,  a  trade 
that  covered  oil  tho  stiaii  of  tho  known  world,  and  an  oxDori- 
cnro  that  was  lepleto  with  U^unau  on  tho  nea-ssity  of  repelling 
outrages  by  force,  this  great  interest  was  treated  with  a  neglect 
that  approoched  fatuity.    To  add  to  this  oversight,  and  to  in- 
cn^aso  tho  despondency  of  tho  service,  as  well  as  of  all  tho«J 
whoso  views  extended  to  tho  future  nocossilios  of  the  country, 
the  govnrnmtnl  apiieurs  to  huvo  ndoptinl  a  policy,  in  connexion 
with  tho  defence  of  the  harl)our«,  bays,  ond  sounds  of  l|ie  coast, 
that  was  singujjirly  adapted  to  breaking  down  the  high  tone 
that  tho  navy  hod  acquirod  in  its  rocont  experience.     This 
"  plan,"  which  has  been  generally  known  as  the  "  gun-boat 
policy,"  originated  as  for  Imck  as  the  year  1803,  though  it  did 
not  become  of  sufficient  moment  to  be  particularly  noticed  until 
the  time  at  which  wo  are  now  orrived,  in  tho  regular  order  of 

events. 

Tho  gun-lxwits,  at  first,  wore  well  received  in  the  senrioe, 
sinco  they  gave  enterprising  young  oflScers  commands ;  and  the 
vessels  originally  constructcil,  were  of  an  equipment,  siao  and 
force,  which  in  a  measure  r«;movcd  the  objections  that  young 
soa-officcrs  would  be  apt  to  urge  against  serving  in  them.  At 
the  close  of  the  year  1806,  tho  President  announced  to  Con- 
gross  that  the  gun-boats  already  authorised  by  a  law  of  April 
of  tho  same  year,  ftO  in  number,  were  so  fiir  advanced  as  to 
put  it  in  the  power  of  the  government  to  employ  them  all,  the 
succeeding  season ;  and  tho  message  contained  a  recommenda* 
tion  to  extend  the  system. 

An  event  soon  occurred  that  not  only  stimulated  this  policy, 
but  which  induced  the  government  to  resort  to  now  measures 
to  protect  the  country,  some  oi  which  were  as  ijuestionable,  as 
they  were  novel.  A  few  ships  had  been  kept  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean,  as  stated ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  being  noted,  that,  with  a 
commerce  that,  in  1807,  employed  1,900,000  tons  of  shipping, 
this  was  the  only  foreign  station  on  which  an  American  cruis- 
er was  ever  seen  I  Neither  was  there  any  proper  home  squad* 
ran,  notwithstanding  the  constant  compUunts  that  were  mMM 
of  the  wrongs  inflicted  by  English  and  Piench  cruisers,  par* 
ticnlariy  the  former,  at  the  very  mouths  of  the  harbours  of  the 
country. 


334 


NAVAL    MIBTOHV. 


On  iho  amh  of  April,  IHiM),  th«  Britwh  shsp  Lrandcr  BO, 
Caiilaiii  Wliiiby,  iu  .>iul<"v.Mirin«  to  cul  off  a  wimU  cm»U>r, 
xZ  w«.  running  for  Hau.ly  ll.-ik.  Hr*..!  »  .h.rt  into  hor.  which 
kiilod  on«  of  \m  i^n-b.    Thw  outrti^  occurroJ  quilo  ii«ar 
thfi  thoro.  •od  il  excilod  a  .imng  (Wling  of  luaignalion,  in  • 
portion  of  tlH,  «Kiniry,  «t  lowt.     Hu',  »n»ortun«u,ly.  |M»rty 
«,iril  h«.l,ol  that  poriod.laUon  thfl  wort,  met  dm.K«r.,u«.  and 
{Lni  cr,diuil.l«  (orrn,  in  which  it  can  exwt  m  emv  «r.<o  aiuntry. 
Hv  neulwlmji  to  pluaj  th«  rtipublic  iti  an  allituda  to  command 
«.!..«*  tfw  glvornnwnt  had  Uh-.,  «.m|Kaied  to  appeal  to  arilii. 
m.)U  and  Jnnciplo.,  i .  tho«.  cam«  in  winch  an  Dp,H,ttl  to 
fortM  w  lh«  only  prwervativo  (if  national  right*,  and,  in  m  do- 
laa,  it  oiH  iKjd  tho  door  to  th«  admiwion  of  liODhumi,  cx>untcr. 
.r«u.,K..m.  and  di*u«iion»,  that,  in  Iho  end,  ojfcctuahy  arrayed 
onw-half  of  tho  c/)mmunity  a«aihi.l  tho  olhir,  and  thw  too,  «n 
matter,  in  which  foreign  n.au.n.  woro  lh«  r«ul  |«rt.«i  on  one 
■ido.  OBd  tho  conimon  country  «.n  tho  other.     In  a  word,  tho 
axvlt  mmtako  wa.  mado  of  admitting  of  controvor.y  concerning 
fntoro^l.  that  all  wi«  g..verntnenU  hold  to  bo  beyond  dwpulo. 
While  tho  fwli..g«,  Hicy,  and  proparationa  of  the  United 
States  wero  in  Urn  condition  juit  mentionod,  tho  Chowipcako 
86,  was  put  in  commi«ion,  with  a  view  of  ^-rnhng  her  to  he 
McJditofranoftn,  as  flw  rolief-ship.  'he  time  ol  the  |HM,plo  of  the 
Constitution  44,  tl«  only  frigate  left  on  that  stati^m,  being 
nmrly  up.     Captain  Charlea  Gordon,  tho  youngest  master- 
Srlnlant  on  tho  liM,  was  attached  to  the  ^3 J«.pe«*e  a. 
her  captain,  and  Captain  James  Barron  was  «>lected  to  hoist  a 
broad  pennant  in  her,  a.  commander  of  lh«  •9""^™"-    .        . 
The  ship  remained  at  Washiiiaton,  taking  «"»»«'"«•'•  »,?i 
•tores,  u  Jrecciving  officers  and  men,  until  the  clow  r>f  ho 
SS.     During  tilt  time  thi  English  minister  informed  tho 
roTnment  thai  th.xn,  deserter,  from  hi.  B.  M.  ship  Mdampu;. 
fad  enlisted  among  the  crew  of  tho  Chewpeake,  and  he  r^ 
questod  that  they  mig!.t  be  given  up.    Although  the  right  to 
ImaS  dLrte™  is  aot  recogni«ri  by  the  law,  of  nanonju 
there  is  usually  a  disposition  botwotn  friendly  governments  to 
aid  each  other  in  aocurlng  these  *'«n<l'«°'^  *««^''»".y;!'^" 
it  can  be  doiie  under  circumstance,  that  produce  ««  d"^ "»* 
ju^;  and  tho  matter  v.«  wferwd  by  the  navy  department, 
to  dommodoro  Barron,  for  invortigation.    The  mquiry  nppear. 
to  have  been  mado  in  a  proper  temper,  and  with  »  "n^"  *^«; 
to  dismiss  the  men,  should  they  actually  prov«  ««  bo  what  wm 
repiwentod,  though  it  might  bo  questioned  wholbor  tho  Vtmi 


I 


uum.ii  Mffdi^ll^*^^^^^ 


l» 

Lrajwkr  ftO, 
nut!l  ct>nalor, 
U>  hur,  which 
k]  quilo  it«er 
ignation,  in  • 
nausly,  \mt\y 
tngnmuN,  and 
t^!0  (country. 
I  to  command 
p|)cul  to  Brgu* 
ail  a|)|M;al  to 
mid,  in  »o  do- 
lami,  rx>unt«r" 
;uttlly  arrayed 
id  thi«  too,  on 
mrtiea  on  ono 
In  a  word,  tho 
vy  concorning 
syond  disputo. 
of  tho  United 
la  Choaapeako 
ling  h«r  to  the 
J  [MMipIo  of  the 
station,  being 
jngost  master- 
Chesapeake  at 
3cUMi  to  hoiat  a 
udron. 

her  maatfl  nnd 
w  oloao  f>f  the 
sr  informed  the 
ihip  Mclampua, 
»ke,  and  he  re- 
igh  the  right  to 
iwg  of  national 
governments  to 
•specialty  when 
ce  no  direct  in* 
ivy  department, 
inquiry  nppeam 
h  a  sincere  wish 
to  be  what  was 
ether  the  Pw« 


1«07.1 


NAVAL    HIITORT. 


335 


•Innt  himai'lf  Ingnlly  jiosdOMrrI  ony  jKiwnr  to  give  them  up  to 
thtjir  own  offircrH.  Corniwi  (••«)  llarron  dirf!rt«d  ('«|it«in(]or. 
don  to  ini|iiir«'  into  th«'  m'i(l<'r  with  rum,  and  •(»  make  hm  re- 
IHirt.  It  won  umturtnuKd  thnl  iIki  thnio  twn  wern  aiituolly 
ikmitU-n  from  llw>  sliip  iiairowl,  bol  they  all  claimed  li>  be  im- 
pnrr.i«)(l  AnMJricans,  who  Imd  availed  Ihcinsolvfw  of  the  ftrst 
op|Nirtiinity  that  otrentd  en  binding  in  thoir  native  country,  to 
mako  tlwir  osco|io  from  illcgol  ond  unjust  doti-ntion.  One  of 
thcjs.?  men  was  said  t»>  Im  ii  nativnnf  llui  f'kst«rn  Hlior*",  a  f4irt 
of  tho  country  in  which  <'aptain  (Jonkin  wns  born  ;  and  that 
officer,  fcfter  s  cawful  tsxamination,  apprsars  to  havo  b«wn  »a- 
tisfiwl  with  the  tnth  of  his  account.  Another  was  a  colounxl 
man,  and  th«r»  was  hanlly  .i  doubt  of  tlw  truth  of  his  allega- 
tions ;  whiln  Iho  case  of  the  third  sonman,  though  in  part  es- 
tablished, was  not  entirely  cbar.  Under  the  circumslances, 
however,  a  seaman  found  in  the  country,  ana  demanding  tho 
protection  of  its  laws  as  a  oativo,  i<.':!d  not  bo  given  up  to  a 
service  that  was  known  c^ns'ruitly  to  violate  the  rights  of  in* 
dividuols,  on  the  nakwi  demand  of  that  sorviro,  and  in  the 
absence  of  alt  afRrmativo  prwf  of  its  not  having  obusod  its 
power.  'I'hc  Engb'-Ji  minister  nnwivod  tho  nport,  and  he  o(>. 
pears  to  havo  been  satisfied,  as  no  more  was  said  on  the  subject. 

About  the  beginning  of  June,  the  Chesapeake  sailed  from 
Washington  to  Norfolk.  At  this  time,  there  were  but  twelve 
guns  on  board  -;  and,  as  it  is  cnstommy  for  all  vessels 
of  war  to  flro  a  saluto  in  passing  Mfjunl  Vernon,  it  was  dis- 
covered, on  that  occasion,  that  som^;  of  th<-  equipments  were 
imp«?rfect.  Orders  were  issued  by  Captain  (iordonin  coMe- 
quencfl,  though  the  circumstance  probably  excited  leas  atten- 
tion than  would  otl»orwi-w  have  been  tho  rase,  on  acvount  of 
the  unfini»h<xl  state  of  tho  vessel.  The  Ch«»Hpeako  arrived  in 
Hampton  Roads  on  tho  4th  of  Junf ;  and  on  tho  6fh,  Commo- 
dore Barron  paid  her  a  short  visit. 

Between  the  6th  nnd  the  19th  of  June,  tho  remainder  of  the 
guns  and  stores  wcro  received  on  board  the  Chesapeake,  her 
crew  was  complctwl  to  about  375  souls,  and  Captain  Gordon 
reported  her  to  Comuujdoro  Barron  bs  ready  for  sen.  Up  to 
the  6th  of  June,  the  people  had  not  been  quartered  Hi  «Ji,  and 
between  that  day  and  the  time  of  sailing,  they  had  been  at 
quarters  but  three  times ;  on  neither  of  whi^h  occasions  were 
the  guns  exercised. 

About  3  A.  M.,  June  ««d,  the  Chcsnpeake  got  binder  way, 
from  Hampton  Roads,  bound  i  •  tho  Medilerraneea.     At  that 

1» 


JBBL 


998 


NATAL     MliTOaf. 


(im 


onrly  <lny,  tK«  nrmamrnt  of  the  thip  rontiitod  of  38  «ight«ii. 
iK,u»a..f  on  f«>r  KU"-'I«'I«.  ""J  "•"  »'^  '^"otuL'^  •bow,  mafc- 

A  wumlron  o?  Hriti.h  .hip.  of  w.r.  vtryina  con.umly  in 
number.  .n.I  ^fm»\;  \mi  Iwn  wnlching  .«mo  F  n-n-h  Inhale* 
Lt  l.y  .t  Ann.Hi-  -"v^ral  month..     It  wm  ih'"X'^"*=^  I' 
lie  m  Lynnhnvcn,  or  occa.ionolly  to  cruiM  in  thfl  offing.     Un 
tho  Ul»t  of  Ju.....  thi.  tKiun-iron  hn.l  n.n.i.U.1.  of  thw  vo«wl- 
one  of  which  wa»  t»w  lUlona  74.  nn.l  nn..lhflr  thii  Mclampu. 
8a.  tho  .hip  from  which  thu  thrw)  mmmn  .iln»««ly  nHi.lioncil, 
had  tloacrted.     On  lh«  evnning  of  lh«  .am.)  day.  a  fourth  voa- 
Ml,  which  wa.  afterwarcla  a««!rt«m.Hl  to  bo  tho  L.K.i«rd  00, 
Captain  Hi.mphn.y.,  cnmo  in  an,l  anchorwi.     I »»?  1>«»I">"»  *" 
a  .'mall  tw.,..Wkor.  ha.l  a  low«r.a.H.k  Imltory  of  »wfn'y<o""; 
and  it  aatd  to  have  mounUnl  6«  gun»      Wl..  i.  lh«  (.h.«af-»ke 
woighod.  up  at  HampUM.  Uo«d.,theIy>..p"r.l  l.lW  hor  anchor, 
Md  prtx^cJotl  tho  American  (Vigato  to  «n.      Iho  wmd  waa 
light,  at  northw.».t ;  and  aa  tho  Leopard  g.)t  an  offing,  ibo  dia- 
aptxmrod  tehind  Capo  Henry.  . 

Alittlo  after  13  o'clock,  tho  ChMnpoako  woa  up  with  the 
eape,  when  tho  wind  .hiftod  to  tho  M.thward  and  oaatward. 
A.  aho  opened  the  offing,  tlwLeopar.l  waa  aaen  a  few  m.lo.  to 
windwari,  heading  to  tKe  ea.twa«l.  with  "PPO^n^'y/^'y  'J"« 
air.  She  «x)n  took  the  now  wind,  howoter,  when  both  ahipa 
made  atretclK«  to  got  off  tho  land,  tirre  bomg  a  good  worlnng 
broozo  and  \n>.t(iJy  smooth  water.  Tho  I>cop«rd  Uickod  with 
the  Choaapoako,  though  tho  latter  .hip  appear*  to  have  cIo«h1 
with  her,  tho  diatanco  between  tho  two  vomoU  gradually  lo«i- 
oning.  By  aomo  account.,  the  English  .hip  "bortenod  wilin 
order  to  aflow  this.  Up  to  this  moment,  howovor,  it  i.  tho  bet- 
tcr  opinion,  that  thoro  wa.  nothing  unu.ua.  or  •u/P'c'oua  in  her 
movement..  Tho  British  crui«5rs  wore  in  tho  habit  of  atand- 
ing  out  in  thi.  manner,  and  tho  Leopard  obtained  tho  weather 
sage  altogether  by  the  ahift  of  wind.  ,     __  ^. 

About  a  o'clock,  both  ve.«l.  having  an  offing  of  »me  aix 
or  eight  mile.,  the  Choaapoako  tacked  to  the  oaatward  again, 
and  tho  Leopard,  then  about  a  mile  to  windward,  wore  round, 
and  came  down  upon  her  weather  quarter,  when  .ho  hailed,  in- 
forming  Commodoits  Barron  that  she  had  despatcho.  for  him. 
Commodore  Barron  an.wered  that  he  would  lieave-to,  and  re- 
ceivo  a  boat.  Both  'oaaela  now  came  to,  the  Cheaapeake  by 
laying  her  main-topwul  to  the  maat,  while  the  account,  appjjar 
UMertuo,  whether  tto  Leopard  backed  her  forward  or  her  after 


(INT. 

I  ftbove,  m«k* 

roniUintly  in 
rfni-h  rn^atM 
Hiir  nrncttca  to 
m  ortWm.     On 
thrwi  vPBimlB 
thn  MelompiM 
ily  mciitioiiod, 
,  a  fiittrth  voa* 
u  IxHijMinl  00, 
lO  Leopard  wai 
r  twonty-foun, 
h«  (vh«ti««|ioakB 
««1  hor  anchor, 
rhfl  winil  WM 
otfiag,  aho  dit* 

ui  lip  with  the 
and  oaatward. 
1  a  fow  mikm  to 
jntly  very  littlo 
hen  both  ihipt 
1  good  worltint 
ard  tacknd  with 
I  to  have  closed 
gradually  U'm- 
fiortened  aail  in 
vor,  it  ii  the  b«t- 
luapicioua  in  h«r 
tiabit  of  stand- 
ned  tho  weather 

ing  or  tome  tix 
eaatward  again, 
rd,  wore  round, 
in  she  hailed,  in- 
patches  for  him. 
eave-to,  and  re- 
)  Cheaapeake  by 
acoounta  aj^Mar 
ward  or  lier  after 


|M)T.] 


NATAL    HlfTOBT. 


997 


sails.  At  (his  tiiTMt,  ii  waa  ohanrvmi  bv  Mimn  oflho  ofRrnra  on 
Uiard  the  ()hrMi|Makn,  that  (liti  l'',iii(li«h  ihip  h..il  Iwr  lownr 
liurta  IricMl  up,  and  Iho  lutnpionit  out  ol'  h«r  guiDi.  It  dors 
not  ap|war  that  iho  laltnr  litci,  howevor,  IIm  oiwy  one  of  mo- 
niriit,  was  rvpurted  to  oilher  Captain  Uordori  or  Commodore 
ilarron. 

In  a  Ibw  minutes,  a  boat  Arom  the  Ij«'oparil  ramn  aloiigiiide 
ol'  tho  ChoMipt'akn,  and  hor  ollit'^r  wax  iili<mii  into  tho  lubin, 
wh<tn!  h<i  was  rmuiiviid  by  CoiniiHMlortt  Ikuron,  ili<rn  tho  Kng- 
lish  luiutniiant  prtKiurwl  an  ordtir,  mgiiod  by  Vtcn-AdinirBlj 
livrkley,  dalml  llahtHX,  Juno  Isl,  nnd  nddmast'd  to  all  Iho  cap* 
tains  of  llHt  shiiM  undrr  his  coininand,  dinH'tiiig  lh«ni,  should 
Ituty  fall  in  wilfi  lh<s  ('hi>sa|irako  out  of  tlio  wuturs  of  tho  (Ini- 
t«Hi  Hlatns,  and  at  mm,  lu  show  heir  comninndt^r  this  ordt^r ;  to 
"  rwjuiro  to  search  for  deserters,"  and  *•  to  pnxjocd  and  search 
for  the  sonio  i"  ottering  at  the  samo  time,  to  allow  of  a  similar 
aeart;h  on  board  their  own  vi-ssels.  Accom|>anying  this  order, 
was  a  no«M  from  Iho  oomnmmkr  of  tho  Ije«>pard,  address<nd  to 
tho  cominandtTof  tho  ('hcsa|M>nk*!,  reli^rring  to  tho  order  of  the 
vice-admiral,  and  nxpntssing  a  hope  "  that  evory  circumstanco 
reapocting  them  (the  deserters)  may  bo  adjusted  in  a  manner 
that  tho  harmony  subsisting  between  the  two  countries  n»y 
remain  undisturlted.''  To  this  note,  Commodoni  Harron  re* 
turned  an  answer,  stating  that  he  knew  of  no  siK'h  desertttrs  as 
dest;ribed.  flu  a<lde<l,  that  his  recruiting  otllcors  hn<l  Iwen 
particularly  inetructed  by  tho  government  not  to  enter  ony  de> 
sorters  from  the  English  ships,  and  that  his  orders  would  not 
allow  him  to  sufTer  his  pnoplo  to  bo  mustered  by  any  otiiceni 
but  tht'ii  own. 

By  rcferii'ig  to  this  correspondence,  which  has  been  often 
printed,  it  wui  bo  seen  that  neither  tho  order  of  Vice-Admi- 
ral Berkley,  the  note  of  Captain  Humphreys,  nor  tho  an- 
swer of  dommodore  Barron,  was  perfectly  explicit  on  the 
important  points,  of  whether  force  would  l>o  used,  if  the  al- 
lt>g«Hl  df-Hortora  were  not  given  up,  or  whether  they  would  be 
refused,  could  it  be  shown,  by  any  other  means  than  that  of 
being  mustertMl  by  foreign  officers,  that  the  men  rcquirvfJ  were 
among  the  Chesapeake's  crew.  In  a  word,  the  order  and  note 
were  vague  and  general ;  and  tho  answer,  as  far  as  it  went,  the 
most  direct  document  of  the  throe,  appears  to  have  been  framed 
in  a  similar  spirit.     The  British  officer  was  ordered  to  "  re- 

Siuire"  of  thv  captain  of  the  Chesapeake,  '*  to  search  his  ship 
or  deaertera,"  4(c.,  and  "  to  proceed  and  search  for  the  same. 


338 


NAVAL   HI«TO«f. 


IINT 


&o.    Nothing  m  imid  of  compoU'ni?  «  "•'"f'^  [  "n**  f""8*l "* 
term  "  rciuii^"  wuh  «  strong  oiw,  tho  wliolo  phratoology  of  tho 
order  Wtt»  m.ch  «.  M.ight  v.  ry  well  tn\m  do.,bU,  "«"»«' '»|«r^ 
culiar  circumHtanc««,T>ow  far  a  porty,  who  '""'^  P«f"r», 
of  a  d.wiro  K.  pivmjrve  tlw  hormony  of  tho  two  nation.,  might 
fc«l  disimscd  to  violuto  public  low,  ill  order  to  enforce  ita  ob- 
joot.    iho  note  of  Coptain  Humjihroy.  wm  ju.t  •«•  ««P' 2' 
and  just  OS  vague  as  iho  order,  being  a  more  ocho  of  it-  r  [J; 
Commo<loro  Harron  very  dearly  rofti*^  to  P^""'*  •  B"'"^ 
officer  to  search  for  a  dosorlor,  while  ho  ff.J^^^'XSZ. 
ral  principle,  or  what  he  might  do,  could  It  Jo  showa  by  less 
obitJctionablo  means,  that  there  was  a  BnUsh  de«>rter,  of  he 
Hort  mentioned  in  the  order,  on  board  the  Chosapeako,  and  th« 
demand  on  tho  part  of  the  English  officers,  to  search  >"  pe^o"; 
was  abandoned.    Had  there  oven  existed  a  clauw  in  the  treaty 
between  England  and  America,  rendering  it  oblimtory  on  the 
two  nations  to  deliver  up  each  other's  deserters,  tlie  requisition 
of  Vice-Admlral  Berkley,  taken  as  an  order  to  search  in  per- 
aon,  would  have  so  far  exceeded  tho  probable  corurtruc  ion  of 
reason,  as  to  justify  an  officer  in  su,)po.ing  tha^  ""JJi  Kjn^ 
yond  a  little  welUmanaged  intimidation  was  "»«««««»v5'°5*' 
rations  do  not  usually  permit  their  treaties  to  t«8n«!"*« JJy 
any  but  their  own  agents.    While  there  wMSomethingve^ 
equivocal,  beyond  doubt,  in  the  whole  procedure  of  the  Bn- 
Sh,  it  was  «/high.handed  a  measure  to  <«>^;;^JJ^^, 
for  deserters,  by  insisting  on  a  right  to  seareh  a  fomgn  yewrt 
of  war  in  person  for  them,  that  it  would  be  very  dj^cuU  tohe- 
lieve  any  design  to  enforce  a  demand  so  utterly  put  of  the  regu- 
lar courae  of  things,  could  be  seriously  entertained.    It  ought 
to  b;  added,  that  the  deserters  alluded  to  in  the  order  of  Vim- 
Admiral  Berkley,  were  not  thowj  from  the  Mctampus,  atready 
spoken  of,  but  men  from  other  nhips,  who  were  •«!>?«*«  «> 
have  entered  on  board  the  Chesapeake  at  a  much  »»«' «»y- 

The  English  lieutenant  was  on  board  the  Chesapeake  some 
time ;  thelccounts  oi  the  length  of  his  vWt  varying  from  16 
to  46  minutes.  It  is  probable  he  was  fully  half  an  hour  in  the 
cabin.  His  stay  appears  to  have  been  long  enough  to  «cite 
unee  iiness  on  board  hisown  ship;  for,  whileCororoodore  Barron 
was  deliberating  on  the  course  he  ought  to  p*'"*.."'^™**'"* 
was  sent  below  that  a  signal  was  flying  on  board  ttel.«ppart, 
which  her  officer  immediately  declared  to  be  an  onto  for  tte 
return  of  the  boat.  Soon  after  this  signal  waa  shown,  tbe 
answer  of  Commodore  Barron  was  Jelivered. 


(INT 

oiigh  tho 
gy  of  tho 
ir  the  pe- 
ofotiiiont 
u,  might 
'j0  its  ob< 
I  (ixplicit, 
its  ifiirit. 
a  British 
tho  gene* 
a  by  ioM 
ir,  of  the 
],  ond  the 
in  person, 
the  treaty 
try  on  tne 
requisition 
;h  in  per- 
vction  of 
jthing  be* 
ded,  since 
forced  by 
thing  very 
f  the  Bn- 
a  demand 
sign  vessel 
icult  to  be- 
iftheregu* 
It  ought 
•r  of  Vice- 
is,  already 
upposM  to 
Iter  day. 
)eakesoiBe 
ig  firom  IB 
hour  in  the 
rfa  to  excite 
lore  Barron 
infiinnatioo 
kslieopard, 
der  for  the 
shown,  tbe 


1897.) 


NATAL   HISTORT. 


339 
I 


Commodore  Birron  now  sent  for  Captain  Gordon,  and  tcid 
him  to  get  the  gun*deck  clear,  a  duty  that  had  bnen  commenced 
an  hour  or  two  bnfom,  withmit  mforence  to  the  Leopard.  He 
then  went  on  (Jock.  Hoon  aftnr  tho  Kngtish  oflkor  had  passed 
out  of  tho  ship  into  his  own  boat,  )i^  tho  larboard,  or  !ee>gang* 
way.  Commodore  Barron  appeared  m  the  starboard,or  weather- 

nway,  to  examine  tho  Leopard.  Hero  it  would  seem  that 
liter  was  fonJblv  struck  with  tho  appearance  of  prcpara* 
tion  on  board  tho  knglinh  ship,  and  the  idea  that  a  resort 
might  bo  had  to  force  rqn  to  impress  him  serifjusly.  He 
issued  an  order  to  Captatu  Gordon,  to  hasten  the  work  on  the 
gun*deek,  and  to  go  to  quarters.  In  consequence  of  the  latter 
order,  a  few  taps  were  beaten  on  the  drum,  but  that  instrument 
was  stopped  by  directions  of  Commodore  Barron,  and  instruc- 
tions were  given  to  got  the  people  to  their  quarters  with  as 
little  noise  and  parade  as  possible,  in  order  to  gain  time,  if  tho 
Leopard  really  meditated  hostilities. 

It  is  not  easy  to  imagine  a  vessel  of  war  in  a  mote  tmfor- 
nif<ate  situation,  than  that  of  the  Chesapeake  at  this  partieolar 
moment.  With  a  ship  of  superior  force  within  pistol-shot,  on 
her  weather-qtmrter,  ber  guns  trained,  matchea  burning,  people 
drilled,  and  werv  thina  ready  to  commence  a  heavy  fire,  wmle 
•he  herself  was  littered  and  lumberedt  with  a  crew  that  iMd  not 
yet  exercised  her  guns,  and  which  bad  been  ooIt  three  times 
even  mustered  at  their  quarters.  The  btisiniwi  ov  eoiliM  away 
ber  cablet,  which  hod  kin  on  the  gun-ikwk  until  alwr  two 
o'clock,  fma  still  going  on,  while  the  cabin  holk*head,  cabin 
Amritore,  and  some  temporary  pantriea  were  all  slawfog  alt 


A  good  deal  of  'Jis  bngnge  of'the  paostngma  in  the  ship 
also  00  the  gutnleek.  it  woaM  aeent,  hoiwever,  that  some  of 
tho  li^teoants  had  lenrded  the  roovenienta  of  the  Leofawd 
with  distrust  flom  the  bbgUunag;  and  the  veasel  beofpartiev- 
larly  well  onoereo,  theae  ipsntlenieb  sooa  nMMle  m  active  eon^ 
menoemenf  towards  getting  the  ship  elaar.  The  gons  were  all 
loaded  and  shotted,  but  on  examinatioa,  it  was  fomid  that  there 
was  a  deficiency  hi  ranmiera,  wads,  naitches,  gun-toefcs,  and 
powder-homa.  While  tlungs  were  in  this  awfcwanl  coodMoai, 
Connnodore  Baxron  eontinned  in  the  gangway  ""iHritf  tbe 
Leopard.  The  cotter  of  the  latter  \vaa  a  few  uauuteampaBiBg 
back  to  that  veead,  and  aa  aooo  as  the  people  were  oai  vfhtr, 
die  wa*  drappea  astteD,  where  moat  of  the  hoate  wore  hiwuig, 
and  the  English  ship  bailed.  Couauodure  Bamai  aaswcred 
that  he  did  not  ondentand  tbe  hail,  wbea  the  Leoaaid  find  a 

to 


330 


MATAL    HIBTOET. 


(laoT 


i 


I 


I 


shot  ahoad  of  the  Chewipeake.  In  a  few  seojndii  thu  shotwu 
followed  by  an  entire  broadside.  By  this  discharge,  m  addi- 
tion  to  many  injariea  done  the  ship,  Commodore  Barron,  who 
continued  in  the  gangway,  and  his  aid,  Mr.  ««»«•»  *«^ 
wounded.  The  Leopard  was  now  hailed,  and  some  answer 
was  returned,  but  the  noise  and  confusion  rendered  all  attempts 
at  a  communication  in  this  mode  useless. 

Every  exertion  was  making  all  the  while,  to  get  the  bat- 
teriea  ready,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  forward  gun  below, 
the  port  of  which  was  still  down  on  account  of  *»«  «^chor,  it 
appears  that  one  broadside  might  have  been  fired,  had  not  the 
i^^s  of  discharging  the  guns  been  absolutely  wanting.    For 
some  time,  there  was  no  priming  powder,  and  when  an  insufli- 
cient  quantity  did  finally  arrive,  there  were  no  matches,  locks, 
nor  loggerheads.    Some  of  the  latter  were  brought  from  the 
aalleyrhowever,  and  they  were  applied  to  the  pnmmg,  but 
were  too  cold  to  be  of  use.     In  the  mean  while,  the  Leopard, 
in  an  excellent  position,  and  favoured  by  smooth  water,  was 
deliberately  pounng  in  her  whole  fire  upon  an  unresisting  ship. 
This  state  of  thinm  lasted  from  twelve  to  eighteen  minutes, 
when  (Commodore  Barron,  having  repeatedly  desired  that  one 
aun.  at  least,  might  be  discharged,  ordered  the  colours  to  be 
Hauled  down.    Just  as  the  ensign  reached  the  tafiirail,  one  gun 
was  fired  from  the  second  divUion  of  the  ship.  .... 

The  Chesapeake  imniediately  sent  a  boat  on  board  the 
Leopard,  to  say  that  the  ship  was  at  the  disposal  of  the  Bag- 
luh  captain,  when  the  latter  directed  his  officers  to  murter  the 
Aioericancrew.  The  three  men  claimed  to  be  deserters  from 
the  Melampus,  and  one  that  had  run  from  the  Hahfax  sloop  of 
^ta,  were  carried  away.  Commodore  Barron  now  sent  an- 
other note  to  Captain  Humphreys,  to  state  his  ieadio.M»  to  give 
up  his  ship ;  but  the  latter  declining  to  take  charge  of  her,  a 
obupcil  of  officers  was  caUed,  andSe  Cheaapeake  returned  to 
Hampton  Roads  the  same  evening. 

In  this  affiiir,  the  Leopard,  of  cour«>,  did  not  sulfcr  at  all. 
Not  so  with  the  Chesapeake,  although  the  mjunes  abe  suji- 
jiined,  were  probably  less  than  midit  haw  been  expected. 
The  accounts  of  the  duration  of  the  finng,  wy  from  aevra  to 
twenty  minutes,  though  the  majority  of  opmions  place  rt  at 

his  flniets,  «ft«r  •«>  unsuoowrfU  attempt  to  m»ke  use  er«  lofgerncan. 


BfcMrtMiMiH  n  ri'iifUm 


iiiiiifflfiriiliPilff'T"^^"" 


[IW 

shotwM 
,  in  oddi- 
ton,  who 
on.,  were 
e  answer 
1  attempt! 

I  the  bat- 
;un  below, 
anchor,  it 
ad  not  the 
ing.  For 
an  insuffi- 
hes,  locks, 
from  the 
iming,  but 
)  Leopard, 
water,  was 
istin^  ship, 
n  minutes, 
d  that  one 
ours  to  be 
il,  one  gun 

board  the 
f  the  Eng- 
muster  the 
erters  from 
ax  sloop  of 
m  sent  an- 
i<»3  to  give 
;s  of  her,  a 
returned  to 

lufibr  at  all. 
m  she  8US- 
a  ovp^cted. 
MH  seven  to 
place  it  at 

omthapHer. 
divinoa,  w^h 
oggwbcsd. 


f^mmmmmimmmmmmm 


mi.\ 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


231 


nbout  twelve.  Three  men  were  killed  on  the  spot ;  eight  were 
badly,  and  ten  were  slightly  wounded;  making  a  total  of 
twenty^>no  casualties.  The  Leopard  appears  to  have  thrown 
the  weight  of  her  grape  into  the  lower  sails,  the  courses  and 
foie-topmast  slay -sail  having  been  riddled  with  that  description 
of  shot.  Twenty -one  round  shot  struck  the  hull.  All  three 
of  the  'ower  masts  of  the  American  frigate  were  injured, 
and  a  giod  deal  of  rigging  was  cut ;  still  the  impression 
left  by  the  occurrence,  went  to  convince  the  American  service, 
that  Englisii  fire  was  not  so  formidable  as  tradition  and  rumour 

had  made  it.  .  .  ,  .  j 

The  attack  on  the  Chesapeake,  and  its  results,  created  a 
strong  and  universal  sensation  in  America.  At  first,  as  ever 
happens  while  natural  feeling  and  national  sentiment  are  unin- 
fluenced by  calculations  of  policy,  there  was  but  one  voice  of 
indignation  and  reaentment,  though,  in  a  short  time,  the  fiend 
of  party  lifted  his  iaead,  and  persons  were  not  wanting  who 
presumed  to  justify  the  course  taken  by  the  English  vice-ad- 
miral. Notwithstanding  these  exceptions,  the  general  eflect 
was  certainly  very  adverse  to  the  British  cause  in  America ; 
and  the  injury  was  not  fairly  forgotten,  until  it  had  been  ef- 
faced from  the  public  mind  by  many  subsequent  victories. 

Courts-martial  were  held  on  Commodore  Barron,  Captain 
Gordon,  Captain  Hall,  of  the  marines,  and  the  gunner  of  the 
ship.  The  first  was  distinctly  acquitted  of  cowardice,  but  was 
found  guilty  of  "  ntiglocting,  on  the  probability  of  an  engage- 
ment, to  clear  his  ship  for  action."  The  sentence  was  a  sui- 
pension  from  pay  and  rank,  for  five  years.  Captain  Gordon 
was  found  guilty  of  nesligentl^  performing  some  of  his  minor 
duties,  and  was  privatdy  reprimanded.  Captain  Hall  received 
the  same  sentence,  a  little  mitigated;  and  the  gunner  was 
cashwred. 


j 


liiiilMil'iiitttii  1  I  III 


NAVAL     HIBTOBY. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


[1807. 


CkfifOKiM  wu  convened  on  the  26th  of  October ;  and,  as 
toon  as  there  bad  been  time  to  deliberate  on  what  had  passed, 
the  President,  by  his  proclamation,  interdicted  all  British  ves- 
sels of  war  from  entering  the  American  waters.  When  the 
national  legislature  assembled^  a  proposition  to  increase  the 
number  of  gun-boats  was  laid  boforo  it.  Without  a  sufficient 
naval  force  to  raise  a  blockade  that  should  be  sustained  by 
three  ships  of  the  line ;  with  all  the  experience  of  ti;e  war  of 
the  Revolution  fresh  in  their  recollections ;  and  with  the  pros- 
pect of  a  speedy  contest  with  a  poople  that  scarcely  hesitated 
about  closins  the  porta  of  the  Union  in  a  time  of  peace,  the 
legislators  of  the  day  misdirected  the  resources  of  a  great  and 
growing  country,  by  listening  to  this  proposition,  and  creating 
a  species  of  force  that,  in  its  nature,  is  merely  auxiliary  to 
moi«  powerful  means,  and  which  is  as  entirely  unfitted  to  the 
moral  character  of  the  people,  as  it  is  to  the  natural  formation 
of  the  coast.  On  the  18th  of  December,  a  law  was  passed 
authorising  the  construction  of  188  gun-boats,  in  addition  to 
those  already  built,  which  would  raise  the  total  number  of  ves- 
sets  of  this  description  in  the  navy  to  267.  This  was  the  de- 
vel(^mcnt  of  the  much-condemned  "  gun-boat  system,"  which, 
for  a  riwrt  time,  threatened  destruction  to  the  pride,  disoipliie, 
lone,  and  even  morals,  of  the  service. 

Inhere  can  be  no  question,  that,  in  certain  circumstauoos, 
vessels  of  this  sort  may  be  particularly  usefiil ;  but  these  cir- 
cumstances are  of  rare  occurrence,  as  they  are  almost  always 
connected  with  attacks  on  towns  and  harbours.  As  the  policy 
is  now  abandoned,  it  is  unnecessary  to  jpoint  out  the  details  by 
which  it  is  rendered  particularly  unsuitable  to  this  country, 
though  there  is  one  governing  principle  that  may  be  mention- 
ed, which,  of  itself,  demonstrates  its  unfitness.  The  American 
coast  has  an  extent  of  near  two  thousand  miles,  and  to  protect 
it  by  means  of  gun-boats,  even  admitting  the  praoticabiUty  of 
the  method,  would  involve  an  expenditure  sufficient  to  create 
a  movable  force  in  ships,  that  would  not  only  answer  all  the 
same  purposes  of  defence,  but  which  would  possess  the  addi« 
tional  advantage  of  acting,  at  need,  o&nsively.    In  other 


ilittaniwi 


lilMiMliiiHHi 


t^i 


[ItOT. 


ir ;  and,  m 
lad  poaaed, 
3ritish  vet* 
When  the 
icreaoe  the 
ft  aufiicient 
iBtained  by 
tij9  war  of 
h  the  proa- 
y  hesitated 
'  peace,  the 
X  ffreat  and 


Dd  creating 
luziliary  to 
itted  to  the 
il  formation 
was  pasaed 
addition  to 
nber  of  vea* 
WM  the  de* 
im,"  whichi 
I,  diaoipliie, 

sunwtauoos. 
It  theae  cir- 
ooat  always 
■  the  policy 
e  details  by 
is  country, 
be  niention- 
e  American 
id  to  protect 
ticability  of 
It  to  create 
wer  all  the 
u  the  addi> 
,    In  other 


180B.J 


NAVAL    HI0TORT. 


233 


words,  it  was  entailing  on  the  country  the  cost  of  an  eflRcient 
marine,  without  enjoying  ita  advantagea. 

At  the  time  when  the  laws  of  nationa  and  ths  flag  of  the 
United  States  were  outraged,  in  the  manner  related  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapter,  the  government  was  empowered  to  employ  no 
more  Chan  1420  seamen,  ordinary  seamen  and  bo^s,  in  all  the 
vessels  of  the  navy,  whether  in  commission  or  m  ordinary. 
The  ndminiatration  felt  that  this  number  was  insufficient  for 
the  common  wants  of  the  service,  and  early  in  1808,  the  se- 
cretary asked  for  authority  to  raise  1278  additional  men,  to 
be  put  on  board  the  gun-boaU  that  were  now  ready  to  receive 
them.    The  necessary  law,  however,  was  withheld. 

The  near  approach  of  a  war,  that  succeeded  the  attack  of 
the  Leopard,  appears  to  have  admonished  tho  English  govern- 
ment of  the  necessity  of  using  some  efficient  means  of  settling 
the  long-pending  disputes  between  the  two  nations,  and  nego- 
tiations were  carried  on  during  the  year  1808,  in  a  temper  that 
Siromised  a  pacific  termination  to  the  quarrel ;  and,  in  strict  con- 
brmity  with  a  practice,  (it  would  be  an  abuse  of  terms  to  call 
it  a  policy,)  that  has  long  prevailed  in  the  country,  the  time 
that  should  have  been  actively  employed  in  preparations,  was 
irreclaimably  lost,  in  the  idle  expectation  that  they  would  not 
be  needed.  No  act  was  passed,  nor  any  appropriation  made, 
either  for  the  employment  of  more  men,  or  for  placing  in  com- 
mission  any  additional  vessels,  until  the  last  ot  January,  1809, 
when  the  President  was  directed  to  equip  the  United  States  4i, 
President  44,  Essex  82,  and  John  Adams  34 ;  the  latter  ves- 
sel having  been  cut  down  to  a  sloop  of  war.  By  the  same 
law,  the  navy  was  greatly  increased  in  efficiency,  as  respects 
the  officers  and  men,  the  President  being  authorised  to  appoint 
as  many  additional  midshipmen  as  would  make  a  total  of  460, 
and  to  employ  in  all,  0030  seamen,  ordinary  seamen,  and 
boys.  By  adding  the  remaining  officers,  and  the  marine  corps, 
the  whole  service  could  not  have  contained  a  total  of  less  than 
7000  persons,  when  the  act  was  carried  into  execution. 

The  equipmoit  of  the  ships  just  mentioned,  and  the  active 
employment  of  all  the  small  vessels  of  the  service,  probably 
tared  the  navy  of  the  United  States  from  a  total  disonronisa- 
tion.  It  was  the  means  of  withdrawing  a  large  portiou  of  the 
(rfBcers  from  the  gun-boats,  and  of  renewing  that  h£it  tone 
and  admirable  disoiplioe  which  had  distinguliihed  it  at  the  close 
of  the  Tripolitan  war.  By  this  time,  neariy  all  the  midship- 
men who  had  been  before  Tripoli,  were  lieutenants ;  and  there 
30* 


_-*&.,* 


984 


MATAL    HIBTOET. 


[ina 


WM  already  one  inatance  in  which  an  officer,  who  had  enter- 
ed  the  navy  aa  a  midahipman,  cornmandod  the  frigate  in  which 
he  had  first  aerved.*  .       , . 

In  the  courao  of  the  aummer  of  1808,  too,  it  waa  though 
prudent  to  make  a  commencement  towarda  the  employment 
of  a  force  on  the  lakea ;  England  already  poaaeawng  ahipa  on 

There*teing"no  or-cial  law  for  auch  an  object,  advantage 
waa  taken  of  the  oiacretionary  powers  fronted  to  the  I  aHulcnt 
unde.-  the  act  for  building  Bun.bo^.:^    A  ^''.offif  *«« 
puSd  under  the  ordera  of  lieutenant  M.  T.  Woolscy,  and 
that  gentleman  waa  empowered  to  make  contracU  for  t..e  con- 
.truclion  of  ihree  ve««l.,  one  ofwhich  waa  to  ^.b"''*  ?« 
Uke  Ontario,  and  the  other  two  on  Lake  Champlain.     Ihe 
two  vcaanla  constructed  on  Lake  Chamnlain  were  ordinary 
aun-boata,  but  that  conatructed  on  Lake  Oii,ano  w««.af  8": 
Sr  brig  of  war.    The  latter  waa  of  about  two  hundred  and 
forty  t^n.  meaaurement,  waa  pierced  for  aixteen  ?«««,  and 
when  delive.^  by  the  contractors,  m  the  "P^ng  <« -\®°^^^^^ 
the  aea-officera  ordered  to  receive  her,  she  mounted  16  twenty- 
four  pound  carronadea.    In  consequence  of  an  arrangement 
Ihat  waa  made,  about  ihi.  time,  with  England,  b"t  ^h.«h  wa. 
not  ratified  in  Europe,  this  vessel,  *hich  waa  called  tlwOnoi- 
da,  waa  not  equipped  and  aeat  upon  the  lake  till  the  followmg 

^'^hia  waa  a  period  of  vacillating  policy  in  both  naUona, 
England,  at  timea,  appearing  diapoaed  to  arrange  amicably  the 
muSy  different  pointa  that  had  arisen  with  Amenca.  and  the 
Utter  country  aiUng,  at  moments,  as  if  it  believed  war  to  be 
SLrible,  while  at  others,  it  aeemed  ^  l«  in  eameat  with  ite 
preWltioia.  Thus  passed  the  yeara  1808, 1800,  and  1810, 
&bar|p  having  b^nraiaed,  followed  by  a  «on^««»!?^, 
law  with  Sreat  Britain,  and  succeeded  by  an  abaence  of  all 

"oiring'ihia  period  of  doubt,  the  veam^k  of  the  navythat 
were  in  wmmiasion,  were  principally  «'?P»7^  .?»»*"  ^^1 
or  they  kept  up  the  oommunicationa  witl.  the  di&ient  diplo- 
matic  agenu  in  Europe,  bv  carrying  deapalche..  There  la  no 
^oTthat  these  w.v.  C..p»t.nt  ye««,tothe  ?em««5  '°^ 
Snce  the  attack  on  thf.  C,  .<aapeake,  the  utmort  v'g»l«noe  pre- 
vailed, and  every  coran^ander  watched  jealously  for  an  oppor- 

•  Captain  Deeator. 


*'■■■[  I II  III  -i "—^ — ^..^L-jMitHi^Miiaiat*!!* 


U-^mM'-'- 


iiiiiilii 


iia*.A-^-.,, ,.- 


had  enter- 
kte  in  which 

w  thought 
mplopicnt 
ig  ships  00 

,  advantage 
lie  Presitlcnt 
liRconi  were 
oolitcyi  and 
for  ti»e  con- 
be  built  on 
plain.    The 
ire  ordinary 
ffta  a  rcgu- 
lundred  and 
1  guns,  and 
of  1809,  to 
d  16  twenty- 
arrangement 
It  which  was 
led  the  Onei- 
the  following 

both  nations, 
amicably  the 
)rica,  and  the 
ed  war  to  be 
meat  with  its 
19,  and  1810, 
n-intercourse 
baence  of  all 

the  navy  that 
on  the  coast, 
[iflbrent  diplo- 
There  is  no 
!  service ;  for, 
vigilance  pre- 
fer an  oppor- 


1811.] 


NAVAL    HIITOftT. 


235 


tunity  to  wipe  out  the  disgrace,  rea!  or  imaginary,  of  that  un- 
fortunate affair.  No  more  vcsseia  were  sent  to  the  Mediterra- 
nean, but  the  whole  maritime  force  of  the  republic  was  kept 
at  home.  The  country  had  now  in  active  service  the  follow- 
ing vessels,  vix  s 


President 44, 

Constitution 44, 

United  States ......  44, 

Essex 3'^( 

John  Adams 30, 

Wasp 18, 


Hornet 18, 

Argus 19» 

Siren 16t 

Nautilus 19i 

Enterprise 19« 

Vixen 1'- 


In  addiliuin  to  these  cruisers,  were  a  great  number  of  gun- 
boats, which  were  principally  commanded  by  sailing-masters, 
who  had  been  selected  from  among  the  officers  of  merchant 
vessels.  The  Nautilus  and  Vixen  had  both  been  rigged  into 
brigs ;  the  Enterprise  soon  after  was  altered  in  the  same  nian- 
nor  J  and  an  occasion  to  rebuild  the  Hornet  occurring,  she  was 
converted  into  a  ship,  and  piereed  for  two  more  guns,  makirig 
twenty  in  all.  Unhappily,  the  opportunity  was  lost  of  equip- 
ping a  force  that  could  prevent  blockades. 

The  English  increased  their  cruisers  on  the  American  coast, 
in  proportion  to  the  Americans  themselves,  though  their  ves- 
sels no  longer  lay  off"  the  harbours,  impressing  men,  and  6> 
taining  ships.  It  was  seldom  that  a  British  cruiwr  waa  now 
seen  near  the  land,  the  government  probably  cautioning  ita 
commanders  to  avoid  unnecessary  exhibitions  of  this  sort,  wrttt 
a  view  to  prevent  collisions.  Still  they  were  numerous,  cniued 
at  no  gicat  distance,  and  by  keeping  up  constant  communica- 
tions totween  Bermuda  and  Halifax,  may  be  said  to  have  in- 
tercepted nearly  every  ship  that  passed  from  one  bemispbere 
to  the  other.  .  . 

Such,  in  effect,  was  the  state  of  things  in  the  spring  of  t^ 
year  1811,  when  information  was  received  by  the  senior  offi- 
oer  of  the  navy  afloat.  Commodore  Rodgers,  that  a  man  had 
been  impressed  from  an  American  brig,  at  no  great  distance 
from  Sandy  Hook,  by  an  English  frigate  that  was  suppowd  to 
be  the  Guerriere  88,  CaptainT)acre8.  The  broadpennant  of 
Commodoiv  Rodgers  was  flying  on  board  the  P«wdent  4*, 
Captain  Ludtow,  which  ship  was  then  anchored  off  AanapoUn. 
Rwoiring  on  board  his  ytme\,  he  got  under  wa^r,  with  on  m- 
teotion  of  proceeding  off  New  York  to  inquire  into  the  beta, 
00  the  lOUi  of  May ;  passing  the  oupea  shortly  after. 


236 


HATAL    MIITOftV. 


[1011. 


On  Iho  16th  of  May,  at  noon,  a  aail  waa  madn  from  tha 
Praaklflnt,  which  ship  waa  thon  about  aix  loagww  from  tho 
laua,  to  tho  aouthwafd  of  New  York.  It  waa  aoon  perceived, 
by  thrt  Mqiutroneaa  of  hia  yarda,  and  the  aymmotry  ol  hia  aaila, 
I '.at  tho  dtrangor  wiw  a  vowel  of  war,  and  the  Aniertcau  fri^ 
^•^ata  Bloo<l  for  him,  with  an  intention  to  H«t  within  hail.  At  8 
t,  \o  Proaidont  act  ner  broad  jwrinant  and  ttniiign.  Tho  atran- 
gee  now  made  aoveral  signals ;  but  finding  thoy  wore  not  an 
awerod,  he  wore  and  stood  to  tho  southward.  Although  the 
Preaident  gainod  ujwn  the  chase,  tho  wind  lessened,  and  night 
aet  in  before  she  could  get  near  enough  to  diNtinguish  her  force. 
It  was  iMist  7  o'clock  in  tho  evening  when  the  Htrunger  took  in 
hia  Btuddiog-aails,  haulod  up  hia  courses,  and  came  by  the 
wind  on  the  atarboard  tack.  He  now  sot  an  ensign  at  hia  gafT, 
but  it  waa  too  dark  to  diacover  tho  nation.  Aa  he  cante  to  the 
wind,  he  noceaaarily  ahowed  hia  broadside,  and  waa  taken  for 
a  amall  frigate. 

The  Preaident  continuing  to  stand  down,  the  chase  wore 
four  aoveral  timee,  in  order  to-  prevent  the  Americon  frigate 
from  getting  a  poaitioa  to  windward.  It  wor,  « onaequcntly 
near  half-past  8  before  Commodore  Rodsera  could  bring-to,  aa 
he  bad  desired,  on  the  weather-bow  of  the  stranger,  or  a  little 
forward  of  hia  beam ;  when,  being  within  a  hundred  yards,  he 
hailed,  and  demanded  "  what  ship  is  that?"  No  answer  wai 
given  to  thia  question ;  but  i^  v  aa  repeated,  word  for  word, 
from  the  stranger.  After  a  short  pause  the  question  waa  agaia 
put,  when  tbo  stranger  fired  a  gun,  the  shot  from  which  ctit 
away  a  breast-bock-itay,  and  entered  the  main-maat.  Com* 
modore  Rodgera  waa  on  the  point  of  ordering  a  ahot  to  be 
i«tumed,  when  a  gun  was  discharged  from  the  second  division 
of  '  '  President.  The  atranger  now  fired  three  guna  in  quick 
aucoession,  and  after  a  short  pause,  the  remainder  of  hia  broad* 
aide  and  all  his  musketry.  The  President,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  delivered  her  broaaid«)  in  return.  In  a  few  minutes, 
however,  it  waa  perceived  on  board  the  American  vessel,  that 
they  were  engaged  with  an  adversary  so  inferior  as  to  render 
her  resistance  very  feeble,  and  orders  were  sent  to  the  diSPtrent 
divisions  to  stop  the  fire. 

The  guns  of  the  Preaident  won  soon  silent;  when,  to  the 
surprise  of  all  on  board  her,  the  stranger  opened  anew.  The 
fire  of  the  American  frioate  recommenced,  but  it  was  agaia 
stopped  in  the  course  ofa  very  few  minutes,  in  oonsequenoe 
of  the  crippled  condition  of  her  antagonist,  who  Uy  neariy 


^IIS—lil 


[<eii. 

t  (Vom  the 
I  from  tbo 
perceived, 
>i  hU  MiU, 
iwricau  fri- 
lail.  At  a 
Ttia  Ktran- 
ore  not  an' 
Ithough  the 
,  and  night 
h  hor  force, 
igvr  took  in 
tme  by  the 
I  at  hia  gafT, 
came  to  the 
a  taken  for 

chaae  wore 
ican  frigate 
inaequcntly 
bring-to,  ai 
r,  or  a  littlo 
)d  yards,  he 
answer  waa 
d  for  word, 
n  was  again 
n  which  cot 
last.  Com* 
I  shot  to  be 
ond  division 
jns  in  quick 
>f  his  broad* 
\  matter  of 
'ew  minutes, 
I  vessel,  that 
as  to  render 
the  diSnrent 

when,  to  the 
anew.  The 
t  was  again 
oonsequenoe 
>  lay  neariy 


1811.] 


NAVAL    HIiTOET. 


237 


end  on,  and  ap|««snlly  unmanageable.  The  American  now 
bailed  again,  and  got  an  onswor  that  h«r  «dv.rMry  was  a 
BrilithThii.  of  war,  though  liw  nom.  *"  '"•"'J'7;. "^  ?^" 
count  of  the  wind,  which  hod  incrtased.  Satmfiod  that  hu 
lato  opponent  wo-  diso'jlcd,  and  having  nodosiro  looffocl  inoro 
thon  had  already  boon  uccoinpli«ho<l,  ton»mod«.ro  Uodgers 
aavo  the  name  of  his  own  ship,  wore  round,  and  runuuig  a 
Jlwrt  distance  to  leeward,  lie  hauled  by  the  wind  agam,  w.lha 
view  to  remain  nigh  t»»  English  vessel  dunng  the  night.  The 
President  kept  lighu  displayed,  in  order  to  let  hor  late  antago- 
nist know  her  posiUon,  and  wore  several  times  to  remam  near 

""when  the  day  dawned,  the  English  ship  was  discovered 
some  distonoa  to  leeward,  hor  drift  in  the  night  having  been 
con«idcrable.  The  President  bore  up  under  easy  canva«s,  and 
running  down  to  her,  lowered  a  boat,  and  Mr.  Creiahlon,  the 
first  lieutenant,  was  sent  on  board,  with  an  ol&r  of  fcrvioBS. 
The  stranaer  proved  to  !»  his  Bntannic  majesty  s  ship  Lattle 
Belt  18,  C&ptoin  Bingham.  The  Littlo  Belt  was  a  vessel  of 
twenty-two  guns,  but  having  a  light  spar-deck  above,  on  whjcb 
no  guL  wew  mounted,  she  had  the  "^rnal  apf«a«nce  of  • 
small  frigate.  She  bad  suffered  severely  by  the  ««  of  the 
President*  and  thirty-one  of  hor  people  had  been  killed  an4 
wounded.  As  Captain  Bingham  i«l.i»d  "«»78  •"^  T^ 
anoo,  the  vessels  parted,  each  making  the  best  of  her  way  to  • 
port  of  her  own  nation.  :„  »„„ 

This  occurrence  gave  rise  to  much  angry  discussion  a^Aroe. 
rica.  and  widened  the  biewh  which  already  existed  between 
the  English  and  the  American  naUoM.  The.^count  pmi 
by  Captain  Bingham  diflfered  essentially  from  that  of  Comroo. 
dore  Rodgers,  and  official  investigations  were  made  on  both 
sides  On  that  u  the  Americans  a  formal  court  of  inquiry 
was  held,  and  every  sea-offioer  in  the  ship  *«««7'"fij?» 
well  as  a  great  many  of  the  petty  officers.  The  testimony 
was  very  cfear,  and  it  was  in  a  great  measure  [>««  f~m  Jhe 
discrepancies  that  usually  distinguish  the  accounts  of  b«">«. 
whether  by  sea  or  land.  The  fact  that  the  Little  Belt  fired 
ThlrKS^n^  esUiWiBhed  by '.he  oath  of^the  officer  who 
ordeH  the  gun  fired  in  return  This  gen  lenrian  d«tmctly 
testified  that  So  gave  the  command,  under  a  "tanfng  order  of 
the  ship,  and  in  consequence  of  having  seen  the  fla«h  and 
heard  the  report  of  the  Uttle  Belt's  gun.  He  not  only  testi- 
fied that  he  heard  the  report  of  the  gun,  but  that  he  also  heawl 


iiili 


NATAft     HIITOBT. 


nil 


dw  iwJtW  n>ftdr  by  «he  ihot  which  had  ctiUmA  <h«  inMt.  Other 
ouictm  and  men  ronolwratod  thU  account,  and  in  a  way  to 
rend<<r  Iht'ir  ••vidonoa  not  only  conaistunt  with  itaelf,  but  with 
pr«.b«bility.  A«  t\v.  Pro«i<lent  waa  vory  fully  offlcflwd,  the 
number  and  reapectalMJily  of  lh«  wilneaaaa,  |»u»  at  rest  alt  ca- 
villing  about  tha  fhcta.  , 

It  18  believwl  that  th^re  waa  no  projwir  court  of  inquiry  held 
on  the  conduct  of  Captain  Ringh«m,  though  affidavita  of  moat 
of  his  otRcera  were  published.  By  thut  gentlcman'a  official 
account,  as  it  hna  been  given  to  the  world,  aa  ««ll  aa  by  the 
affidavila  mentioned,  it  is  afflrnied  that  the  Pmsidfnt  rommenced 
the  action  by  firing,  not  a  single  gun,  but  an  entire  broadaido. 
He  also  intimate*!  that  the  action  lasted  three  quarters  <  f  an 
hour,  and  apneaied  dealroua  ofleaving  the  impreaaton  that  the 
Preaident  h«d  aheered  off. 

As  b«twe«n  the  two  gfjvemmenis,  ♦he  queetion  was  reduced  to 
one  of  veracity.  If  the  account  of  tiw  American  .fflcer  was  true, 
that  of  the  English  officer  waa  untrue ;  and  if  the  accxmnt  of  the 
Bogliah  (rfBoer  was  true,  that  of  the  American  officer  waa  un- 
true. Each  government  aeeming  disposed  to  believe  ita  own 
officer,  no  political  consoquencea  followed  this  rencontre.  The 
Praaident  austained  little  Injury,  no  round  shot,  besidea  the  one 
in  her  main-maat,  and  another  In  her  fore-mast,  riaving  atruck 
her;  and,  of  her  people,  one  bo\  lone  waa  alightiy  wounded 
by  a  muBket.ball.  The  Little  Belt,  on  the  other  hand,  having 
•ufftred  oven  out  of  proportion  to  the  disparity  of  fore*  between 
the  veaaels,  the  American  government  waa  satisfied  with  the 
nuniahmeir  alrtsady  inflicted  on  the  aaaailanta ;  while  the  En- 
glUh  government  could  not  well  insist  on  reparation,  without 
domanding  that  the  American  fiinctionariea  would  not  believe 
their  own  officer.  After  sonw  communications  on  the  aubtect, 
and  an  exchange  of  the  teatimony  that  had  been  given,  nothing 
flirthor  appeara  to  have  been  done,  or  contemplated,  by  either 
fpfwafOoaU 


,- .'jjiML^ 


rtmaawaMN 


nil 

ut.  Other 
n  ■  way  to 
ir,  but  with 
Dcored,  tha 
rett  all  ca« 

iquiry  held 
'it«  of  mnrt 
n's  official 
I  aa  by  the 
'ommencod 
broarUido. 
rtera  <  an 
ioa  that  th« 

I  reduced  to 
or  waa  true, 
Rount  of  the 
XT  was  un- 
eve  ita  own 
ontre.  Th« 
idea  the  one 
ving  atruck 
ly  wounded 
and,  having 
roe  between 
led  with  the 
hile  the  En- 
ion,  without 
I  cot  believe 
the  aubiect, 
ven,  nothing 
id,  by  either 


ini.) 


MATAk    HltiVORf* 


339 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

It  haa  uotm  aeen  that  no  conaequcncea,  beyoml  nu  inrrwaaed 
alicnalioii  IwtwMin  tho  two  countriea,  followed  the  rencontre 
butwtwn  the  I'rwiident  and  Littl«  IfeU. 

Not  long  aOer  «he  mooting  IxHween  tlwse  two  vcaaola,  tho 
United  Slatea  44,  bearing  tho  broad  pcnnnnt  of  Commodom 
Decatur,  fell  in  with  tho  Eurydico  and  Atalanta,  Hritiah  ahipa, 
off  N.-W  York,  and,  whilo  the  commandora  w«m  hailing,  one 
of  the  rwnmen  of  the  former  veaael,  in  carelewlv  handling  the 
lanyard  of  hia  lock,  fired  a  gun.  Happily  both  i^rtieni  were 
cool  and  diacroot,  and  p.-^ncr  oxplanatioiw  having  beon  made, 
the  Engliah  commander  waa  eoUrely  aatiafted  that  no  mault,  or 
aaaault,  waa  intended.  .  ^ 

Between  tlio  reduction  in  1801,  and  the  commencement  ol 
1819,  a  poritxi  of  eleven  oventAil  ynara,  during  which  the  na- 
tion waa  acarccly  a  day  without  Huflering  violation  of  lU  neu- 
tral  righta,  nota  aingle  frigate  had  been  adcksd  to  tho  navy  I 
The  ahipa  of  the  lin-a  authoriaed  in  1799  were  entirely  aban. 
doned,  and  notwithatanding  the  critical  relationa  of  the  country, 
the  experience  of  the  nnat,  and  ao  many  yearn  of  commercial 
proaperity,  the  navy,  in  aomo  roaprcta,  waa  m  a  worae  aitua. 
Son  than  after  the  «ile  H  the  -hip- i"  »80l     Of  the  thirt«n 
frigate,  retained  at  that  time,  the  Philadelphia  38,  ha.l    -« 
taken  and  deatroyed.  an<!  the  New  York  86,  General  Green 
88,  and  Boaton  88,  had  gone  to  decay,  without  repaira.    1  hiM, 
in  point  of  fcct,  though  twelve  ahipa  of  thia  claaa  appear  oo  the 
liat  of  the  day,  bat  nine  actuallv  eiiated,  for  any  practical  pur- 
poaea.    The  varioua  veaaela  of  inferior  force,  that  have  been 
olrendy  mentioned  in  thia  work,  aa  conatructed  under  different 
lawa,  had  been  added  to  the  navy,  whilo  two  or  three  temp«>. 
mrily  token  into  the  aervice  were  already  aold.    A  few  amali 
•cboonera  had  been  parchaaed.     Navy-yard^  been  ertab- 
liahed  at  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Boaton,  W»ahington.  Goa- 
port,  and  Portamouth,  though  they  were  aUll  in  their  inftncy, 
iind  very  incomplete.    One  hundred  and  ■e*«>tjrgun-bo«tohiid 
alao  bMO  built,  and  were  diatributed  in  the  diffcrwit  porta  of 

wSltetiie  navy  o«  the  whole,  tha  gun-boata  eioeptea,  had 


KATAt    MliTORft 


(IMS. 


rather  l«t  Ihnn  R«i™«l  in  |.hytu.l  force,  ■ln«.  the  r««Juct.n.j 
of  IHOl.  It  ho.l  itnnrov«d  imiiwMurably  m  di*  ipliiw,  U.ii«,  uimI 
in  an  «^l  rf*  rorj».    T\w  litllo  «!»«  h^d  boen  lott.  m  tli«.o 
rwiiw.1-;  thr.M.Kh  iIr.  «'rvu:n  in  gun-UmU,  wm  inor«  thm  ro- 
gaiiiod  by  l»»<^  .Hii*!! |)n)duc«;d  by  tbo attack  on  the CheM|««M, 
Mid  the  con-tttnt  •tuU;  of  oxritriw-nt  ih.t  pr.wa.lc.1  with  n-giir«l 
to  Enali«h  •iuir«Mioni, during  tho  fiw  j.roc«Hling  y«>ar«.      l t.n 
IkU  of  cjipunn,  inMter.^>mm«nd»nl,  and  Iwutunanli  wort. 
■«m1I,  but  fill-'d  wilh  mon  truin«d  to  obedieocr,  »»«'.  coiuie- 
QUcntly.  ouuIiIUkI  to  command.     U  !•  true,  only  one  of  the  om- 
oora  of  the  n^volution  romaintHl,  at  lh«  Jmd  of  llw  wrvue;  ami 
ho  waa  nearly  •uiKirannualBd  by  yoari  and  inftnnilie* ;  bu 
tho«)  to  whom  they  had  imparted  their  tradmon.  and  ipint 
ha<l  •mvcMk.d   them,     Commodr.w  Baniuel  Nicholaou,  who 
had  bwn  ..mployod  in  tho  year  1770.  oven,  aa  commander  of 
the  Dolphin  10,  di.Ml  at  tho  hr«d  of  tho  wrvice  at  the  c  (»c  of 
Iho  voor  IBU.     Tho  cclfbratod  Prcblo  had  procodcd  him  to 
the  grave  w^veral  yean,  and  Commodore  Murray  »l"no  re- 
maii!«d  of  lho«j  officen  who  might  ba  aaid  to  have  belonged  «" 
tho  old  achool.     Still,  the  now  achool  waa  in  no  rwpect  infc. 
rior;  and  in  •omo  particulara,  it  waa  grwtly  the  auDerior  of 
thiU  which  had  go.-,  bafor.  it.     The  vea-U.  generally,  wero 
good  ahipa  of  Ihair  roapeciive  claa*;.,  and  tho  ofticer.,  aaa 
Body,  were  every  way  worthy  to  lake  charge  of  them.    Bo- 
veral  of  tho«.  who  had  been  reuined  ••  midihiprnwi,  aAor  the 
war  with  I-'ranco,  wer«  alroady  coraman<kr.,  and  the  voaaela 
honeath  tho  rute  of  frtgatee,  with  one  eiceotwn,  were  com- 
inudid  by  gentlemen  oT  thla  deacriplion.     TV  exception  waa 
in  thr  caJ^  of  tho  Waap  18,  on  board  which  .hip  wa.  Captain 
Jona.,  who  had  been  the  youngeet  of  the  heutenanU  rotaiiM^ 
in  J801. tnd  who  wn«  now nearlv  the oldeat  maater-commaod. 
ant.     He  had  joined  the  aervico,  however,  aa  a  midahipman. 

If  the  naval  a^ament.  made  by  tho  country,  under  tto 
piuapect  of  a  war  with  Great  Britain,  aro  to  bo  regard.xl  with 
the  oyea  of  prudence,  IHUe  more  can  be  aaid,  than  to  eipreaa 
wLiPhment  at  the  political  inflituation  which  permitted  the 
t^T^l^Zion  iJL.  unheeded.  Still  a  litUe  waa  done, 
and  that  little  it  ia  our  duty  to  record. 

Early  in  1808,  tho  roariiw  corpa  waa  augmented  by  an 
addition  of  near  700  men,  which  probably  Put  thui  ""P^rt^t 
branch  of  tho  navy,  on  a  footing  equal  to  the  real  of  J^"  "J^ 
vice,  oa  it  then  existed ;  tho  ontiro  corps  containing  about  1»W 
men  when  Aill.    On  the  80th  of  March,  1819,  or  leaa  than 


(tuft 

rwdurtion 
I,  Unw,  aiul 
il,  in  Ukihu 
ra  than  ra* 
h«Mpoak«. 
»ilh  naarti 
Mira.     The 
nanti  wore 
ID(1,  coiuw* 
of  the  uffl* 
orvioa;  and 
initiea ;  but 
I  and  spirit 
olaon,  who 
imantkr  of 
[he  close  of 
clod  him  to 
r  nlono   re- 
bolongod  to 
iMpoct  infe« 
■uiwrior  of 
srnlly,  wera 
fliccra,  aa  a 
tbcro.    8o' 
m,  aftor  the 

the  voaacla 
,  were  oom- 
iception  was 
waa  Captain 
nta  retained 
r-csommaod* 
dahipman. 
f,  under  the 
igarded  with 
a  to  cxprcaa 
lennitted  the 
le  waa  done, 

sntfid  by  an 
is  important 
)t  of  the  aer- 
gabcutlSOO 
or  leaa  than 


4P 


iillllllMllflWlilfftlTr  ■ 


1 


leia.] 


Niiii 


imiii 


NAVAL   HIBTOBY. 


341 


three  monlhs  previously  to  the  war  with  England,  Congress 
authorised  the  President  to  cause  thr«>«  additional  frigates  to  be 
put  in  service,  and  the  sum  of  6200,000  annually  was  appro- 
priated  for  the  purchase  of  timber  to  rebuild  the  three  frigates 
that  had  been  permitted  to  decay,  and  the  one  that  had  been 

captured.  .    .  -j     j  .u 

When  the  amount  of  these  appropriations  js  considered,  the 
conclusion  would  seem  inevitable,  that  the  government  did  not 
at  all  anticipate  hostilities,  were  it  not  for  the  more  ample  pre- 

Earations  that  were  making  on  land,  and  the  large  sums  that 
ad  been  expended  on  gun-boata.  It  is  not  improbable,  there- 
fore,  that  those  to  whom  the  direction  of  affairs  was  confided, 
believed  the  naval  force  of  the  country  too  insignificant,  and 
that  of  Great  Britain  too  overwhelming,  to  render  any  senous 
efforts  to  create  a  marine,  at  that  late  hour,  expedient.  A  com- 
mxiaoa  of  the  naval  forces  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States,  with  their  respective  conditions,  will  render  this  idea 
plausible,  although  it  may  not  fully  justify  it,  as  a  measure  of 

policy.  ,    „         ^  .    J 

In  1812,  the  navy  of  Great  Britain  nominally  contained 
a  thousand  and  sixty  sail,  of  which  between  seven  and  eight 
hundred  were  efficient  cruising  vessels.  France  had  no  fleets 
to  occupy  this  great  marine,  Spain  w«o  detached  from  the  alli- 
ance against  England,  the  north  of  Europe  no  longer  reqmrwi 
a  force  to  watch  it,  and  Great  Britain  might  direct  towards 
the  American  coast,  as  many  ships  as  the  nature  of  the  »  ar 
could  possibly  demand.  »       •      u  j 

As  opposed  io  this  unexampled  naval  power,  America  had 
on  her  list  the  following  vessels,  exclusively  of  gun-boats,  viz: 


Constitution 44, 

Preddent 44, 

United  States ......  44, 

Congress 36, 

Constellation 38, 

Chesapeake 88, 

New  York 86, 

Essex 32, 

Adams 28, 

Boston 28, 


John  Adams 28, 

Wasp 18» 

Hornet 18« 

Argus 10i 

Siren 10* 

Oneida 16, 

Vixen 14» 

Nautilus 14> 

Enterprise 14, 

Viper 18. 


Of  these  vessels,  the  New  York  86,  and  Boston  28,  wrare 
uoseaworthy,  and  the  Oneida  16,  was  on  Lake  Ontario.    The 
remainder  were  efficient  for  their  rates ;  though  the  Adams 
21 


-i 


342 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[1813. 


rcfluircd  ct'onsivo  ropnirs  boforo  «hn  crmld  ho  iiont  to  sea.  It 
follows  that  America  wan  nbout  to  cngngo  in  a  wnr  with  much 
the  grcntout  mnritimo  [wwcr  thot  tho  world  ever  saw,  possessing 
horsolf  but  sovcntoon  cruising  vessels  on  tho  ocean,  of  which 
nine  were  of  a  class  loss  than  that  of  frigates.  At  this  time 
tho  morchont  vessels  of  tho  United  States  wore  spread  over  the 
facG  of  the  entire  globe.  No  other  instance  con  bo  found  of  so 
great  a  stake  in  shipping  with  a  protection  so  utterly  inade- 
quate. 

There  con  lie  but  one  monner  of  accounting  for  this  extra- 
ordinory  state  of  things ;  that  olreody  mentioned  of  the  belief 
of  the  impossibility  of  keeping  vessels  at  son,  in  face  of  the 
overwhelming  force  of  Great  Britain.  It  is  in  corroboration 
of  this  opinion,  that  a  project  was  entertoined  by  the  cabinet  of 
laying  up  all  the  vessels  in  ordinary,  with  a  view  to  prevent  them 
from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  This  step  would 
have  been  a  death-blow  to  the  navy,  since  the  people  would  have 
been  perfectly  justifiable  in  refusing  to  support  a  marine,  that 
was  intended  solely  for  peace.  It  is  now  understood  that  this 
resolution  was  only  prevented  by  the  interference  of  two  offi- 
cers of  the  service,  who  happened  to  be  at  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment when  the  subject  was  under  discussion.  These  gentle- 
men* are  soid  to  hove  mode  a  vigorous  written  remonstrance 
against  the  scheme,  and  by  means  of  their  representations  to 
have  induced  the  cabinet  to  change  its  policy. 

Under  ordinary  circumstonces  the  intention  just  stated, 
would  have  been  indicative  of  great  feebleness  of  action,  and 
of  a  narrowness  of  views,  that  was  entirely  unsuited  to  the 
characters  of  statesmen.  But  the  circumstances  were  extra- 
ordinary.  Not  only  wos  the  marine  of  Great  Britain  much 
the  most  powerful  of  any  in  the  world,  but  it  was  more  pow- 

•  Captains  Bainbridge  and  Stewart  Theae  two  officen  were  ahown 
ordera  to  Commodore  Rodgera  not  to  quit  New  Yorlt,  but  to  keep  the  vea- 
aela  in  port  to  form  a  part  of  its  habonr  defence.  Th«y  aought  an  inter, 
view  wuh  the  Secretary,  who  waa  influenced  by  their  repreaentationa,  and 
who  procure  for  them  an  audience  of  the  Preaident.  Mr.  Madiaon  liat- 
ened  to  the  repreaentationa  of  tho  two  captaina,  with  attenticn,  and  ol». 
aerred  that  tho  experience  of  the  Revolution  confirmed  theii  opiniona. 
The  Cabinet  was  convened,  bnt  it  adhered  to  ita  former  advice.  CapUina 
Btinbridge  and  Stewart  tl»en  addreaaed  a  strong  letter  to  the  Preaident, 
who  took  on  himaelf  to  change  the  plan.  It  ia  aaid,  that  one  or  two  <rf 
the  cabinet  acceded  to  tbi«  d>Miiaiou,  au  the  ground  that  the  ahipa  wooM 
aoon  be  Uken,  and  that  the  country  would  thna  bt  rid  of  tb«  eoatormua- 
taiiuiif  thsm,  and  at  more  liberty  tc  direct  its  energiea  to  the  anny. 


ll|]lllll)llHglHi||i|'ll 


mmm 


[1613. 

to  aea.  It 
'  with  much 
,  possessing 
1,  of  which 
i  this  time 
;a(l  ovoi  the 
I  found  of  (to 
torly  inade- 

■  this  extra- 
af  the  belief 
face  of  the 
srroboration 
10  cabinet  oi 
irevcnt  them 
step  would 
J  would  have 
marine,  that 
}od  that  this 
of  two  offi- 
it  of  govern- 
'hese  gentle* 
cmonstrance 
lentations  to 

just  stated, 
'  action,  and 
uited  to  the 
were  extra- 
Iniain  much 
i  more  pow- 

ri  were  shown 

0  keep  the  vet- 
ught  an  inter- 
•entationt,  and 
r.  Madiaon  liat- 
intivn,  and  th- 
theik  opiniom. 
rice.    Captains 

1  the  President, 
one  or  two  of 
he  shipe  wooM 
leeoetofnuuii- 
Iheanny. 


1813] 


NAVAL     HISTORT. 


343 


rrful  than  those  of  all  tno  rest  of  Christendom  united.  In  ad- 
dition to  its  actual  physiwil  force,  it  had  created  for  itself  a 
moral  auxiliary  that  was  scarcely  less  ova^lablc  in  practice 
than  its  guns  nnd  men.  The  reputation  of  invincibility  was 
very  generally  attached  to  nn  Knglish  mnn-of-wnr,  and  per- 
haps no  |)coplo  gave  Kngland  morn  nmpic  credit  for  every 
siKJcies  of  sujKjriority,  whether  physical  or  moral,  that  she 
claimed  for  herself,  than  thowiof  the  United  States  of  America, 
The  success  of  the  British  navy  was  indi.<»putable,  and  na  few 
Americans  then  read  books,  or  journals,  in  foreign  tonguej, 
while  scarcely  a  newspa-ier  appeared  without  ite  columns  con- 
taining some  tribute  to  British  glory,  it  would  not  bo  easy  to 
jmrtray  the  extent  of  the  feeling,  or  the  amount  of  the  credulity 
that  generally  existed  on  such  subjects. 

That  the  officers  of  the  navy  should,  in  a  great  degree,  be 
superior  to  this  dependent  feeling  was  natural.  They  had  en- 
joyed means  of  comparison  l.Sat  were  denied  the  bulk  of  their 
fellow-citizens,  and  the  results  had  'xiught  them  more  confi- 
dence in  themselvfM.  They  knew  that  their  ships  were  at 
least  as  good  as  those  of  England,  that  they  sailed  as  fast, 
were  worked  as  well,  and,  in  every  essential  on  which  a  sea- 
man prides  himself,  that  England  could  justly  claim  no  other 
superiority  than  that  which  might  be  supposed  to  belong  to  her 
greater  experience  in  naval  warfare.  Against  this  odds,  they 
were  willing  to  contend.  Not  so  with  the  nation.  Notwith- 
standing  the  best  diapositioBS  on  the  part  of  a  vast  majority  of 
the  American  people,  the  conviction  was  general  that  an 
American  vessel  of  war  would  contend  against  an  English  ves- 
sel  of  war  with  very  few  chances  of  biiccess.  After  making 
every  allowance  for  equality  in  all  the  other  essentials,  tte 
great  point  of  practice  was  against  the  former,  and  the  confi. 
dence  produced  by  a  thousand  victories,  it  was  believed  would 
prove  more  available  than  aeal  or  courtige. 

It  is  not  as  easy  to  describe  the  feeling  on  the  other  side. 
Among  the  young  officers  of  the  British  navy  it  is  pretty  safe 
to  say  that  a  notion  of  overwhelming  superiority  was  very 
generally  prevalent ;  but  among  tht  older  men  there  were  many 
who  had  studied  the  Amtricun  cruisers  with  observant  eyes, 
and  a  few  who  still  .ecollected  the  war  of  the  revolution,  when 
ill-equipped,  oncoppered  and  half-manued  ahips,  had  rendered 
victory  dear,  and,  not  unfrequently,  defeat  certain.  The  jour- 
nab  of  Great  Britain  indulged  in  that  ccaree  and  impcU^r 
abuse,  which  has  probably  done  more  towards  raising  a  IwetOe 


.lif.rj  i;;.-,^,v  j,'...v:m^  ^ulLj. 


.  nil— in.  »■  t^^  »i  I 


.4JW<. 


244 


MAVAL    HIBTOaT. 


[ISlt. 


feeling  throughout  Chriatcndom  againat  their  nation,  than  any 
political  injustice,  or  political  jculousics ;  and  the  few  ahipa  of 
the  American  navy  did  not  C8ca[)c  thoir  snoera  and  miakvprt'* 
Hentatiuna.  One  of  the  very  last  of  the  vtitiacla  they  attempted 
to  hoid  up  to  the  derision  of  Europe  woa  the  Constitution,  a 
frigate  that  was  termed  "  a  bnnch  of  piuo  boards,"  sailing 
"  under  a  bit  of  striped  bunting."  As  indecorous  ns  was  thia 
language,  and  as  little  worthy  aa  it  might  bo  to  excite  feeling, 
or  comment,  America  was  too  keenly  alive  to  English  opinion, 
to  hear  it  with  indifference,  and  the  day  was  at  hand  when  she 
exultingly  threw  back  these  terms  of  reproach;  '.ri'.h  taunts 
and  ridicule  almost  aa  unbecoming  as  the  gibe?  that  had  pro- 
voked them. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  even  the  friends  rf  the  navy  looked 
forward  to  the  conflict  with  distrust,  while  the  English  felt  a 
confidence  that,  of  itself,  was  one  step  towards  victory. 


CHAPTER  XXVU. 

Owing  to  grievances,  that  had  long  been  drawing  to  a  head, 
Congress  formally  declared  war  against  the  King  of  Great 
Britain  on  the  16th  of  June,  1812. 

At  the  moment  when  this  important  intelligence  was  made 
public,  nearly  all  of  the  little  American  marine  were  in  port, 
or  were  cruising  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  coast.  The 
Wasp  18,  Captain  Jones,  was  alone  on  foreign  service;  and 
she  was  on  her  return  from  Europe  with  despatches. 

But  the  declaration  of  war  did  not  find  the  little  marine  of 
America  in  a  condition  to  act  in  a  combined,  intelligent,  and 
military  manner.  The  vesels  were  scattered ;  some  were  un- 
dergoing repairs,  others  were  at  a  distance ;  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  small  8<^uadron,  every  thing  was  virtually  com- 
mitted to  the  activity,  judgment,  and  enterprise  of  the  different 
captains.  In  the  port  of  New  York,  were  collected  the  Presi- 
dent 44,  Commodore  Rodgers ;  Essex  82,  Captain  Porter ;  and 
Hornet  18,  Captain  Lawrence.  With  the  exception  of  the  Es- 
sex, which  ship  was  overhauling  her  rigging,  and  re-stowing  her 
hold,  these  vessels  were  ready  to  sail  at  an  bourns  notice.   Com* 


■M--tv.X-.^-^  .    L\  p^■,I^^H,Y'^  ^^fc-^  - 


mmm«»m: iiiwiWiirrg^'iWW'"'*"'''"*'*"' 


«>n<.!iW-A'»*^ 


[18IS. 

nation,  than  any 
the  few  ships  of 
rs  and  miskvprb- 

8  they  attempted 

9  Constitution,  a 
boards,"  sailing 

reus  ns  was  this 
to  excite  feeling, 
English  opinion, 
it  hand  when  she 
ach;  '.ri'.h  taunts 
es  that  had  pro> 

'  the  navy  looked 
to  English  felt  a 
I  victory. 


1819.1 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


245 


•awing  to  a  head, 
I  King  of  Great 

gence  was  made 
ne  were  in  port, 
the  coast.  The 
gn  service;  and 
atches. 

i  little  marine  of 
,  intelligent,  and 
;  some  were  un- 
md  with  the  ex- 
IS  virtually  com- 
B  of  the  different 
llected  tha  Presi> 
tain  Porter ;  and 
eptionofthe  Es- 
id  re-stowing  her 
r's  notice.  Com- 


modore, Rodgers  in  anticipation  of  hostilitieb  had  dropped  into 
the  bay,  with  the  Frcsidenl  and  Hornet,  whcri'  ho  was  joined  by 
the  United  States  44,Commodoro  Decatur, Congress  38,Captoin 
Smith,  and  Argus  16,  Lieutenant  Con)mandant  Sinclair,  all  of 
which  vesseU  arrived  from  the  southward  on  the  i^lst  of  June. 
Information  had  been  received  of  the  sailing  of  a  largo  fleet 
of  Jemaica-mon,  under  protection  of  a  strong  force ;  and  as 
these  vc8<jels  would  naturally  be  sweeping  along  the  American 
coast,  in  the  gulf  stream,  it  was  determined  to  make  a  dash 
at  this  convoy, — as  judicious  a  plan,  under  the  circumstances, 
as  could  then  have  btwn  adopted.  Within  an  hour  after  he 
had  received  official  information  of  the  declaration  of  war,  to- 
gether with  his  orders,  Commodore  Rodgers  was  under  way. 

The  squodron  passed  Sandy  Hook  on  the  aflernoon  of  the 
3l8t  of  Juno,  and  mn  off  south-east.   That  night  an  American 
was  spoken  thai  l^ad  scon  the  Jamaica  ships,  and  sail  was  in- 
stantly crowded  in  pursuit.    On  the  23d,  however,  at  6  A.  M., 
a  vessel  was  seen  to  the  northward  and  eastward,  which  was 
soon  made  out  to  be  an  enemy's  frigate,  and  a  general  chase 
took  place.    The  vind  was  freah  for  the  greater  part  of  the 
day,  and,  the  enemy  standing  before  it,  the  President,  nn  un- 
sommonly  fast  ship  ofT  the  wind,  soon  gained,  not  onl>  on  *««> 
stranger,  but  on  the  rest  of  the  squadron.  About  4  P.  M.,  she 
was  within  gun-shot  of  the  chase,  but  the  wind  had  unfortu- 
nately iftlien,  and  the  American  ships  being  just  out  of  port, 
and  dwp,  the^r  greater  comparative  weight,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, gu"e  the  enemy  an  advantage.    Perceiving  but 
very  faint  h>!{H»  ot  getting  elongsido  of  the  stranger,  unless 
he  could  be  chppleo,  Commodore  Rodgers  determined  to  open 
on  him  with  his  chase-giins.   With  this  view,  that  officer  went 
forward,  himself,  to  direct  the  cannonade,  and  about  half-past 
4,  the  forecastle  gun  was  discharged.    This  was  the  first  hos- 
tile shot  fired  afloat  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  the  gun  is  under- 
stood to  have  been  pointed  by  Commodore  Rodgers  m  person. 
The  shot  struck  the  *""--  in  the  rudder-coat,  and  drove  through 
the  stem  frame  into  the  gun-room.    The  next  gun  was  fired 
from  the  first  diviaion  below ;  it  was  pomted  and  discharged 
by  Mr.  Gamble,  the  second  lieutenant,  who  commanded  the 
battery,    '^he  shot  struck  the  muzzle  of  one  of  the  enemy  s 
stern  chasers,  which  it  damaged.    Commodore  Rodgers  fired 
the  third  shot,  which  struck  the  stem  of  the  chase,  killed  two 
msm,  badly  wounded  two  morw,  and  slightly  injured  a  lieuten- 
uU  and  two  others.    Mr.  Gamble  again  fired,  when  the  gun 
21 » 


IHlltllMl 


346 


MAVAL    HIBTORY. 


[ISIA 


Imrdtpd.  The  iihot  flew  broad  off  on  tho  Prcsidfsnt's  bow,  and 
I  he  explosion  killed  and  wounded  nixtoon  men.  Tho  forecai- 
ilo  deck  was  blown  up,  and  Commodore  Rodgors  wa»  thrown 
into  tho  air,  breaking  a  It^^  by  tho  fall.  This  accident  prevent- 
ed the  guns  of  that  side  (rom  being  us*?d  for  iom«  time.  Tho 
pause  enabled  tho  enemy  to  ojwn  from  four  stern  giins,  other- 
wi«e  he  would  have  mxm  Ixf^n  driven  from  tho  after  part  of 
his  ship.  Tho  fire  of  the  chnse  was  spirited  and  good,  ono  of 
his  shot  plunging  on  the  President's  deck,  killing  a  midship- 
man and  ono  or  two  men.  Tho  President  shortly  after  began 
to  yaw,  with  a  view  to  shoot  awny  some  of  tho  chase's  sjtars, 
and  her  fire  soon  compelled  tho  latter  to  lighten.  Tho  enemy 
cut  away  his  anchors,  stovo  his  boots  and  threw  them  over- 
board, and  started  fourteen  tons  of  water.  By  those  means 
he  drew  ahead,  when  about  7  o'clock  the  President  hauled  up, 
and  as  a  last  resort,  fired  three  broadside8,j™>8t  of  the  shot 
of  which  fell  short. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  get  any  nearer  to  the  enemy,  with- 
out rendering  his  own  ships  inefficient  for  a  cruise,  by  lighten- 
ing,  Commodore  Rodgers  ordered  the  pursuit  to  bo  abandoned, 
about  midnight.  It  was  afterwards  knowu  that  the  vessel 
chased  was  the  Belvidera  36,  Captain  Byron,  who  gained  much 
credit  for  the  active  manner  in  which  ho  saved  his  ship.  The 
Belvidera  cot  into  Halifax  a  few  days  later,  carrying  with  her 
the  news  of  the  declaration  of  war.  Tho  President  had  twenty- 
two  men  killed  and  wounded  on  this  occasion,  sixteen  of  whom 
suffered  by  the  bursting  of  the  cun.  Among  the  former  was 
tho  midshipman  mentioned ;  and  among  the  latter  Mr.  Gam- 
ble. The  loss  of  tho  Belvidera  was  stated  at  seven  killed  and 
wounded  by  shot,  and  several  others  by  accidents,  Captain 
Byron  included.  She  also  suffered  materially  in  her  sp*  a, 
sails,  and  rigging ;  while  the  injuries  of  this  nature,  received 
by  the  President,  were  not  serious. 

The  squadron  now  houied  up  to  its  course,  in  pursuit  of  the 
Jamaica-men ;  and,  from  tinfM3  to  time,  intelligence  was  obtain- 
ed from  American  vessels,  of  the  course  the  fleet  was  steering. 
Or  the  let  of  July,  the  pursuing  ships  tell  in  with  large  quan- 
tities of  cocoa-nut  shells,  orange-peels,  6ec.  &c.,  which  gave 
an  assurance  that  they  had  struck  the  wake  of  the  Bngiiafi- 
men.  This  was  a  little  to  the  eastward  of  the  Banks  of  New- 
foundland, and  the  strongest  hoj)C3  were  entertained  of  coming 
up  with  the  fleet  before  it  could  reach  the  channel.  On  the 
9th  of  July,  an  English  letter  of  marque  was  captured  by  the 


iim»<iii  i|iii«>«>'  UMJlKim^W* 


ii;.  iii_iji.^MW-_.-^i], ,.  .liiiittiiwilJi 


■^ 


(lUA 

Bnt's  bow,  and 
Tho  fort'cas- 
a  was  thrown 
idont  prevent* 
no  time.  The 
n  ffinn,  other* 
alk-r  part  of 
1  good,  ono  of 
ng  a  midship- 
ly  after  began 
chase's  spars, 
,  Tho  enemy 
3W  them  ovcr- 
y  those  means 
lent  hauled  up, 
>st  of  the  shot 

5  enemy,  with* 
ise,  by  lighten- 
bo  abandoned, 
hat  the  vesMl 
10  gained  much 
Ilia  ship.  The 
rying  with  her 
int  had  twenty* 
xteen  of  whom 
he  former  was 
tter  Mr.  Gam* 
iven  killed  and 
dents,  Captain 
'  in  her  spe  a, 
ature,  received 

I  pursuit  of  the 
ice  wan  obtnin- 
it  was  steering. 
ith  large  quan* 
:.,  which  save 
f  the  Bngnafi* 
Ranks  of  New- 
ined  of  coming 
nncl.  On  th« 
aptured  by  th« 


1B19L] 


MAV  AL    HISTORY. 


947 


'f  ,• 


Hornet.  Captain  Lawrence,  and  her  master  reported  that  h« 
had  «.-en  tho  Jamaica  ves«ils  the  previous  ovwung,  "»<'"  "e 
convoy  of  a  two-duckcd  ship,  a  frigate,  a  .loop  oi  war,  and  a 
bria  He  had  counted  oighty-five  sail.  All  possible  moans 
were  now  UK-d  to  force  the  squadron  ahett.1,  but  without  sue* 
ccfcs,  no  further  information  having  boon  received  ol  the  fleet. 
The  cha«)  was  continued  until  tho  IHth,  when,  Umig  within  a 
day's  run  of  tho  chops  of  tho  channel,  Couimodoro  Rodgors 
stJxl  to  the  southward,  r«ssin«  Madeira,  •»"*^  ««'"8  '3'°  X 
ton  by  tho  way  of  the  VW-stern  Islands  and  tho  Grand  Banks. 

This  cruise  was  singularly  unfortunate,  for  such  a  moment, 
although  tho  ships  were  kept  in  the  direct  tracks  of  vessels  in 
Crossing  the  oc'ean.  each  timo.  Seven  merchantmen  we« 
taken,  however,  iiid  one  American  was  recaptured,  ine 
squadroD  was  absent  on  this  service  seventy  days. 

Tb.  report  of  tlio  Belvidera  induced  the  enemy  to  collect 

as  m«ny  of  his  vessel,  in  squadron  •«  !'*^«'''«'  ''*'t„l  M 
consisting  of  the  Africa  04,  Captain  Bastard;  Shannon  88, 
Sptain  Broke;  r.norriero  88,  Captain  Dacres;  Bavidera  86, 
Sptain  Byron;  and  .Eolus  32,  Captmn  Lord  J^nf^J^*"- 
Jd,  was  «)oo  united,  in  the  hope  of  f*llmg  m  ^"'"h  t^ommo* 
doro  Rodgers.  Of  this  squadron.  Captain  Brok«.  of  tte  Stan* 
non,  was  the  senior  officer.  It  appeared  "^  New  York  early 
in  July,  where  it  made  several  captures.  The  Nautilus  14 
Lieutenant  Cosnmandant  Crane,  arrived  in  the  po'^  "^  N«w 
York  shortly  after  the  squadron  of  Commodote  Rodgers  had 
MilMi  •  and  this  little  brig  went  out  with  on  indention  ot  cma- 

"Jt 'the  trick  of  the  English  Ind--n/yJ«  c1TT£ 

mSment  when  Commodore  Broke  appeared  off  the  ''™"  ;/,j! 

Elus  got  to  sea  quite  early  in  .luly,  and  fell  in  with  th« 

British  squadron  the  next  day.     A  short,  but  v««~"«  '^"^ 

succeeded,  in  which  Mr.  Crane  threw  overboard  h"   «^gj^' 

and  did  all  that  a  seaman  could  devise  to  ««:ape ;  but  tb^  Nasi- 

Sus  buried,  while  the  frigates  of  t»f«nemy  were  enabled  to 

carry  every  thing  to  advantage,  and  he  struck  to  the  Shannon. 

Tte  NauUlus  ^m  the  first  vessel  of  war  taken  on  "•thor  «^. 

in  this  contest ;  and  thus  the  service  l«^°»«  «' J^'^f '^i'"!"' 

which  had  become  endeared  to  it,  and  identified  ^tu  ita  ^- 

tory,  in  connexion  with  the  war  beforo  Inpoh-  JJ^ ^""^^ 

toS  out  the  officers  and  people  of  their  pnze,  th rw  »  cww 

£to  her,  and  continued  toVuise  in  the  hope  of  meetmg  the 

^"^Ur  Sum  from  a  recent  run  toEurope,  the ConsUtuUon 


\ 


:vi 


■MMMHia**'''^ 


948 


NATAL   MIITOIT. 


(illi. 


44,  Csotain  Hull,  had  gonci  into  tluu  Ch«MD<wke.  Hnrn  thn 
«hippeu  K  new  craw,  and  oa  tbe  I'Jlh  of  July  iho  lailed  from 
Aiuwpcilb,  and  ttwd  to  the  northwkrd.  So  rapidly  h«d  hvr 
oquipinent  been  (flbctod,  that  her  flrat  lieutenant  joined  her 
only  a  fortnight  ^^afora  ahe  aattod,  and  a  draft  of  a  hundred 
nM<ci  woa  ncfiM,,  on  the  evening  of  the  11th.  Friday,  July 
the  17th,  tlu  >hi|.>  wa«  out  nf  •ight  of  land,  th:)Ugh  at  no  urral 
diat(?noe  flrom  ihft  oooat,  with  a  light  breeie  fVom  tiw  ^^.  K., 
and  under  May  cianvoM.  At  1,  ^  oounded  in  93  fathom*  ( 
and  about  oo  bour  afterwards,  four  aail  were  made  in  tha 
northern  boanl,  heading  to  Iho  westward.  At  8,  tho  Conatitu* 
tion  inadn  anil,  fad  tackod  in  IS^  fathoms.  At  4,  aho  diaco* 
vered  a  fifth  sail  to  tho  northward  and  eastward,  which  had 
the  appearance  of  a  votwel  of  war.  This  ship  subsequently 
proved  to  be  tho  Ouerri«re  38,  Captain  Daores.  By  this  time, 
the  othor  four  sail  W'  re  modfl  out  to  be  three  ships  and  a  brig ; 
they  bore  N.  N.  W.,  and  wore  ait  on  the  starboard  tack,  ap« 
pomntly  in  company.  Tho  wind  now  became  vory  light,  and 
the  Constitution  hauled  up  her  moin-sail.  The  ship  in  the 
eastern  board,  however,  had  so  fkr  altered  her  position  by  6, 
OS  to  bcitr  B.  N.  B.,  the  wind  having  hitherto  boon  fair  for  her 
to  close.  But  nt  a  quarter  past  fl,  the  wind  came  out  light  at 
the  southward,,  hringing  the  American  ship  to  windward.  The 
Constitution  nuw  woro  round  with  her  head  to  tho  eastward, 
sot  her  light  siudding-sails  and  stay-soiU,  and  at  half  post  7, 
beat  to  quarters,  and  cleared  for  oolioo,  with  the  intoation  of 
speaking  the  neareftt  vessel. 

The  wind  continued  very  light  at  the  southward,  and  the 
two  vessels  were  slowiv  dosinij;  until  8.  At  10,  the  Coostitu* 
tion  shortunod  sail,  and  imni'  ttely  after  shn  ahowcd  the  pri- 
vate  signal  of  the  day.  After  keeping  the  lights  aloft  near  on 
hour,  and  getting  no  answer  ftrom  the  Ouerriere,  the  Cooatitu- 
tion,  at  a  (quarter  post  11,  lowered  the  signal,  and  nnade  sail 
again,  hauling  aboard  her  starboard  tooks.  During  the  -yhoie 
of  the  middl  watoh  the  wbd  was  very  light,  flrom  the  south* 
ward  and  westward.  Jint  m  the  nwrning  watch  was  called, 
the  Ouerriere  tacked,  then  >c7e  entirely  round,  threw  a  rocket, 
and  fired  two  guns.  As  the  day  ooeoed,  three  sail  were  dio* 
covered  on  the  starboard  quarter  or  the  Coostitu^ioa,  and  thiM 
more  astern.    At  6  A.  M<,  a  fourth  vessel  was  seeu  astern. 

This  was  the  squadron  of  Commodore  Broke,  which  hod 
been  gradually  closing  with  the  American  firigato  during  the 
night,  and  was  now  just  out  of  gun<shot.    As  th»  ahiiw  tkmiy 


^ 


MMMSwaa* 


r    ri.'i.ii{.'.iiia^H'.««^.'lllirillili''^ililkiiAiirtt 


I.  {iara  alM 
A  Mulad  (Vom 
pidly  had  htr 
nt  joinnd  her 
>r  K  hundred 
Friday,  July 
;h  at  no  great 
n  tlie  n!  K., 
39  rathormt 
mado  in  th« 
tho  Conatitu* 
4,  aho  diaco* 
d,  which  had 
aubaec|uently 
By  thia  tima, 
I  and  a  brig ; 
ard  lack,  ap< 
ary  light,  and 
s  ahip  in  tha 
Ktaition  by  6, 
a  fair  for  her 
t  out  light  at 
idward.  'fba 
ho  eaatwardf 
hair  paat  7, 
intention  of 

raid,  and  the 
the  Constitu* 
owed  the  pri- 
aloA  near  an 
tho  Coostitu* 
nd  nnade  aaii 
log  the  -yhole 
m  the  aouth* 
I  was  called, 
rawa  rocket, 
ail  were  dia* 
aa,  and  threa 
eu  aatem. 
I,  which  had 
te  during  the 
ahiipaalowiy 


1111.) 


HAYAL     HliTOET. 


varied  thrir  poaUI<»n«,  when  tho  miata  were  entiialv  clawrf 
away.  th«^  (^onatitulion  had  two  frigatrja  on  h«f  leo  quarter,  and 
a  ih.p  of  tho  lin«.  two  (V.^nt^,  a  brig  and  a  .ch-wner  aatern. 
Tho  n«m«.  of  the  on«my'.  -hipa  havo  already  »•<*"  «';?»» 
but  the  brig  waa  tha  Naulilu*.  and  the  wh.wBor  another  pnie. 
M  the  .trangera  ha.1  Kngliah  coloura  nyuig. 

It  n.»w  fiUl  quite  calm,  and  tho  Conalitution  hoial«d  out  her 
bo.»U,  and  aent  thorn  ah«.d  to  tow.  with  a  view  to  koep  tho 
ahip  ^t  d  the  roach  of  tho  onomy'a  ahot.  At  tho  aaitPitime, 
•he  whlpt  up  one  of  the  Bun.d«ck  gun.  to  tho  "P*;-''^''' ^^ 
run  it  out  all.  ai  a  atern-chaacr,  g«ttmg  a  long  eightotm  oil  ho 
forecaatlo  atw  for  a  aimilar  purpoae.  1  wo  ">»;"»••"? 
twcnty.four.  below  w»)ro  run  out  at  the  cabin  windowa,  with 
the  aamo  objoct,  though  it  waa  found  noce««iry  to  cut  away 
•ome  of  the  wood.work  of  the  -tern  franK-,  in  ordor  to  mako 

Ty'e  o'clock  the  wind,  which  oontiuued  vory  light  and 
baffling.  cAnvoout  from  tho  northwwd  of  *<»<.*'»««♦  ** " 

head  waa  got  round  to  tho  aouthward,  and  all  the  light  canvajifc 
that  would  draw  waa  ««t.     Soon  after,  tho  neareat  frigate,  the 
Shannon,  opened  with  her  bow  guiia,  and  continual  fi""g  *«' 
about  ton  minutea ;  but  perceiving  ahe  coijld  not  reach  tho  (-on- 
.titution.  ah«  caaed.     At  half  paat  8.  Captain  Hull  aounded 
in  26  fatlwma,  when  finding  that  the  enomy  waa  likely  to 
doae,  aa  he  waa  onobl.Ml  to  put  tho  boata  of  two  ahipa  on  one, 
and  waa  alao  fttvourt3d  by  a  little  moro  air  than  the  Conatitu- 
tion,  all  the  apare  rope  that  could  bo  found,  and  which  waa  lit 
for  tho  purpoie,  waa  payed  down  into  the  cuttrra,  bent  on,  and 
a  kedge  was  run  out  near  half  a  mile  ahead,  and  let  go.     At 
a  aigiwl  given,  the  ci«w  clapped  on,  and  walked  away  with  the 
riiiS  overrunning  and  tripping  the  ked^  "^^<^™  »P .'"? 
the  ind  of  the  liSe.    While  thia  wa.  doing,  ft«A  linea  and  an- 
other kedge  were  carried  ahead,  ond,  though  out  of  aight  of 
land,  tho  frigate  glided  away  from  her  pursuera,  before  they 
diao^eml  the  manner  in  which  it  waa  done.    It  waa  not  long, 
however,  before  the  enemy  reaorted  to  the  aamo  expedient. 
At  half  paat  7,  the  Conatitution  bad  a  little  air,  when  ali« -et 
her  enaigTand  fired  a  ahot  at  the  Shannon,  the  mmrttt  ahip 
•Mem.     At  8,  It  feU  calm  again,  and  further  ivco..rao  waa  had 
to  the  boata  and  the  kedgea,  the  enemy'a  veaaew  having  a  light 
air,  and  drawing  ahead,  towing,  aweeping,  and  kedgiM.    By 
9,  the  nearest  iHgale,  the  Shannon,  on  which  the  Engliah  had 
put  moat  of  tbair  boMa,  w«i  olonng  fast,  and  there  waa  every 


;-V,...'...>.....w..-.;;^^,.^.--^  J 


HATAL     HtlTOtf* 


(1118. 


prnapoct,  notwilhatarxling  th<i  •li<iiiiin<«M  and  Activity  of  th« 
Cousliiuiiott'a  |)cu|il«,  that  tite  rrt|{a(a  jual  irK^iitiomxJ  would  g«t 
nmtr  oixiugh  to  crtppl«  her,  wiion  h«r  a«p<ura  by  itm  rmt  of 
th<i  ii({u«iiroii  would  be  inevirtbln.  At  ihia  trying  muinciit  tha 
bnat  aiiirit  iiravaiimi  m  l\w  ahi|).  Kvery  thing  wiu  alopiiertitl, 
and  (.npinin  Hull  wna  not  without  ho|M>fi,  ovon  ahould  no  bo 
forced  inlo  action,  ol'  throwing  (ho  Hhannon  latArn  by  hia  (Ire, 
■nd  of  maintainina  hia  diatanco  from  the  othttr  vnuola.  It 
waa  known  that  tno  •tnomv  could  not  tow  very  n<Mir,  ««  it 
would  have  Ixwn  eaay  to  aink  hia  boata  with  tho  atom  guna  of 
thn  CoiMlitution,  and  not  a  man  in  'M«  Inttoi  veaarl  ahowod  a 
dia|ioaitiiin  lo  ilca|)ohil«n(-y,  Otllcora  atul  rnen  n)li«vod  each 
oth«r  r«gularly  at  tha  duty,  and  whilfl  the  fornwr  threw  thorn- 
•elvra  down  on  deck  to  catch  abort  Qapa,  tha  pmpta  altipt  at 
thnir  guna. 

Thia  wna  one  of  tfie  nrioat  critical  monionta  of  lh«  chaao. 
The  Shannon  waa  faat  cloaing,  aa  haa  bo«;n  iual  staM,  while 
the  Uuerri«ra  waa  iilmoat  aa  near  on  tho  larboard  <|uari«r. 
An  hour  promiaod  to  bring  the  atruggle  to  an  iaaue,  wlien  nud- 
denly,  at  0  minute*  paat  9,  a  light  air  flrom  the  aouthward 
•truck  tho  ahip,  bringing  hiir  to  windward.  The  httautiflil 
manner  in  which  thia  ndvantago  waa  improved,  nxcitad  ndmi- 
ration  even  in  the  onemy.  Aa  tho  broexe  waa  aeen  coming, 
tho  ahip'a  raila  were  trimmed,  and  aa  aoon  aa  ahe  waa  under 
command,  ahe  waa  brought  cloae  up  to  the  wind,  on  the  lar* 
board  tack ;  the  boata  were  all  dropped  in  aiongaido ;  thoN 
that  lnilongfHl  to  the  davila  worn  run  up,  while  tho  othera  were 
just  lifted  clear  of  the  water,  by  purcmaea  on  the  apara  out- 
board 8{Mra,  whnro  they  wore  in  readineaa  to  be  uaml  at  a  mo* 
mont'a  notice.  Aa  the  ahip  came  by  the  wind,  ahe  brought 
tho  Gucrriere  nearly  on  her  lee  boom,  when  that  frigate  oponisd 
a  fire  flrom  her  broadaido.  While  the  shot  of  thia  veaael  were 
iuat  Iklling  abort  of  them,  tho  people  of  the  Conatitution  were 
noiating  up  their  boata  with  aa  much  ateodincaa  aa  if  the  duty 
waa  performing  in  a  A-iendl^  port.  In  about  an  hour,  how* 
ever,  it  foil  nearly  calm  ogam,  when  Captain  Hull  ordered  a 
quontity  of  the  water  atarted,  to  lighten  the  ahip.  More  than 
two  thouaand  sallona  were  pumped  out,  and  the  boats  were 
•ent  ahead  agam  to  tow.  The  onemy  now  put  nearly  all  hia 
boot*  on  the  Shannon,  the  nearest  ship  oatem ;  and  a  fcw 
hour*  of  prodigious  exertion  followed,  tho  people  of  the  Con- 
atitution being  compelled  to  *upply  tho  plaoe  of  number*  bv 
their  activity  and  zeiU.    The  snipa  wore  oloaa  by  the  wind, 


V'.'.'. 


^t 


poft 

^Jirity  of  th* 
tiMxJ  would  g«t 
by  th«>  real  of 
ig  moiiM'iit  the 
wiu  itoiiiienNl, 

■hould  no  be 
irn  by  hi*  (Ire, 
sr  vnaaola.  It 
9ry  rxMr,  m  it 

•tern  guns  of 
^•Mrl  ahowml  a 

mliovod  oach 
ir  throw  thorn* 
Mopts  aiept  at 

of  thfl  chftucj. 
It  ttatod,  while 
board  4|uarl«r. 
Hlfl,  wtwD  iiud- 
th«  touthward 
The  buautiAil 
Aicitad  ndmi« 
■onn  coming, 
■hfl  waa  iHidor 
id,  on  the  Uir< 
mgsido;  thoit 
\m  other*  wert 
the  ■(Mire  out> 
usfxl  at  a  mo« 
d,  ahe  brought 
frigato  ofioood 
lia  veaael  were 
utitution  were 
aa  if  the  duty 
an  hour,  how< 
lull  ordered  • 
>.  More  than 
he  boats  were 
nearly  all  hia 
D ;  and  a  few 
e  of  the  Con- 
f  numbers  bv 
» by  the  win<^ 


■''^^'■\ 


<t>. 


.J^..  «> 


v^:^'"^^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


7 


A 


if. 


i^     .#/^ 


A 


M/j 


4t 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


I;. 


12^ 


2,5 

I— 

1.8 


1.4     III  1.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


•^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBStel!,:J.r.  ?4sao 

(716)872-4503 


;\ 


4^ 


•^^ 


J 


^-v  '* 


o 


% 
^ 


% 


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^ 


^2^ 
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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


' 


Canadian  tnstitute  for  Historical  Mlcroreproductions  /  Instltut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


I 


1819.1 


HAT  AL    HIBTORT. 


251 


and  every  thing  that  would  draw  wmi  «it,  and  Ihc  Shannon 
wL  .loKy.  but  .tcadily,  forging  ahead  About  noon  of  th.. 
day,  Ihcro  was  a  little  relaxation  from  l-b""'' *»*""«  ^  \^?^* 
Snal  occurrence  of  catVpaws,  by  watching  which  do-dy,     - 

S;.hipwa-  urged  through  t»^*f '•,?"' •J^^J^w'SS 
12,  the  boau  were  again  sent  ahead,  and  the  toiliome  work 
of  towina  and  kcdging  wa«  renewed.  ,     .     , 

^T  ollock  a  Strange  »il  wa.  di«x,verpd  nearly  to  lee- 
ward.    At  this  moment  the  four  frigate,  of  the  enemy  were 
about  one  point  on  the  lee-quarter  of  '»t?"^'*"/r^  J^m 
injn-shot,the  Africa  and  the  two  prizes  being  on  »».»";»*»""• 
As  thTwind  was  constantly  baffimg,  any  moment  might  have 
brouffbt  a  change,  and  placed  the  enemy  to  windward.    At 
S  minutes  before  two,  the  Belvidera,  then  the  nearest  shjp, 
te^n  to  fire  with  her  bow  guns,  and  the  Conijt.tut«n  opewrf 
Xher  stem  Cham,™.    Oa  hoard  Xh^  \aiter  njn^^er^ii 
was  soon  found  to  be  dangerous  to  use  the  main^k  guw, 
the  transoms  having  so  much  rake,  the  7>?*>7.^"?r,X 
and  the  auns  so  short,  that  every  explosion  Ufted  the  upper 
St. ^threatened  to  blow  out  the  stem  ««•»».  Perceiving, 
mor^ver,  that  his  shot  did  little  or  no  execution,  Captam  Hull 
ordered  the  firine  to  cease  at  half-paet  2. 

FoTsSTeral  Lrs,  the  enemvV^i^ate.  were  now  vnthm 
gunshot,  sometimes  towing  and  kedgin^,  and  at  others  en- 
Sm«rinK  to  close  with  the  pufi  of  «r  tibat  occasionally 
S  M  7  in  the  evening,  thi  boats  of  the  ConrtituUon  w«e 
Wrf««l,  the  ship  steen^^lg  S.  W,  *  W.,  with  «i  air  so  lujJii 
Tto^tEi-timp^bl*  AtWfp«rt7  .he«)und«U 
24  fathom*  For  hours,  the  same  toibome  duty  was  gomg  on, 
unt  1  a  iSte  before  llVwhen  a  light  air  from  the  southward 
Sck  r.hip.  and  the  sail,  for  the  first  time  «» J^^yj^ 
houre  were  aik«p.  The  boat,  inrtantly  diopp^  along^ 
hooked  on,  and  iiJne  aU  run  up,  with  the  exception  of  the  first 
cutter.  The  topgallant  rtudding.«ul.  and  rtay-wils  were  set 
««ii  a.  po«SE,  «id  for  about  an  hour,  the  people  caught 

'  sSr^ight H feU neatly calmagain; though nritherthe 
puSier.  nor  ttep«r«KMJ  hjid  recc«»e  to. the boata.  pn*ably 
from  an  unwiUingneaa  to  daturb  their  crew*  At  2  A,  M^  « 
STo^^ed  rUrf  the  Coj^ionthrt  the  6«nj?'e^ 
forged  ahead,  and  wa.  again  off  their  lee-bewn.  At  this  tune, 
the  top-gallant  rtodding-sail.  were  taken  m.  •      ^  ,v. 

InS^manner  puMd  the  night,  and  on  the  mommg  of  the 


i^Miiiiiill 


252 


NATAL    HI8T0RT. 


[181Q. 


next  day,  it  was  found  that  throe  of  the  enemy's  frigates  were 
within  long  gun-shot  on  ti:<>  ico<quarter,  and  the  other  at  about 
the  same  distance  on  the  !ee>boani.  The  Africa,  and  the 
prizes,  were  much  farther  to  leoward. 

A  little  after  daylight,  the  Uu;:rriere,  having  drawn  ahead 
aufficiontly  to  be  forward  of  the  Ckinstitution's  beam,  tackod, 
when  the  tatter  ship  did  the  same,  in  order  to  preserve  her  po> 
sition  to  windward.  An  hour  later  the  iEolus  passed  on  the 
contrary  tack,  so  near  that  it  was  thought  by  some  who  ob- 
served the  movement,  that  she  ought  to  have  opened  hor  fire ; 
but,  as  that  vessel  was  merely  a  twelvc-pounder  frigate,  and 
she  was  still  at  a  considerable  distance,  it  is  quite  probable  her 
commander  anted  judiciously.  By  this  time,  there  was  sufR- 
cient  wind  to  induce  Captain  Hull  to  hoist  in  his  first  cutter. 

The  scene,  on  the  morning  of  this  day,  was  very  bcautiAil, 
and  of  great  interest  to  the  lovers  of  nautical  exhibitions.  The 
weather  was  mild  and  lovely,  the  sea  smooth  as  a  pond,  and 
there  was  quite  wind  enough  to  remove  the  necessity  of  any 
of  the  extraordinary  means  of  getting  ahead,  that  had  been  so 
freely  used  during  the  previous  eight-and-forty  hours.  AH  the 
English  vessels  had  got  on  the  same  tack  with  the  Constitution 
again,  and  the  five  frigates  were  clouds  of  canvass,  from  their 
trucks  to  the  water.  Including  the  American  ship,  eleven  sail 
were  in  sight,  and  shortly  after  a  twelfth  appearad  to  wind- 
ward, that  was  soon  ascertained  to  be  an  American  merchant- 
man. But  the  enemy  were  too  intent  on  the  Constitution  to 
regard  any  thing  else,  and  though  it  would  have  been  rasy  to 
capture  the  ships  to  leeward,  no  attention  appears  to  have  been 
paid  to  them.  With  a  view,  however,  to  deceive  the  ship  to 
windward  they  hoisted  American  colours,  when  the  Constitu- 
tion set  an  English  ensign,  by  way  of  warning  the  strangor  to 
keep  aloof. 

Until  10  o'clock  the  Constitution  was  nnaking  every  prepara- 
tion for  carrying  sail  hard  should  it  become  neoesdary,  and  she 
sounded  in  25  fathoms.  At  noon  the  wind  fell  agam,  though 
it  was  found  that  while  the  breeze  lasted,  she  had  gained  on 
all  of  the  enemy's  ships ;  more,  however,  on  Bome,  than  on 
others.  The  nearest  vessel  was  the  Belvidera,  which  wa«  ex- 
actly in  the  wake  of  the  Coiutitution,  distant  about  two  and  a 
half  miles,  bearing  W.  N.  W^  The  nearest  frigate  to  leewoid, 
bore  N.  by  W.  jt  W.  distant  three  or  three  anq  a  half  miles ; 
the  two  otlier  frigates  were  on  the  lee-quarter,  dLst^nt  about 


wiiiiT 


[1810. 

*a  frigates  wen 
)  othor  at  about 
Vfrica,  and  the 

;  drnwR  ahead 
1  beam,  tackod, 
irowrve  her  po« 
passed  on  the 
Home  who  ob- 
pcnod  hor  fire ; 
ler  frigate,  and 
te  probable  her 
thero  was  sufii- 
is  first  cutter, 
very  beautiful, 
[hibitions.  The 
as  a  pond,  and 
ecessity  of  any 
lat  had  been  ao 
hours.  AH  the 
the  Constitution 
irass,  from  their 
ihip,  eleven  sail 
earad  to  wind- 
lean  merchant* 
Constitution  to 
fe  been  rasy  to 
ra  to  have  been 
ive  the  ship  to 
m  the  Constitu- 
the  strangor  to 

every  prepera- 
BSdary,  and  she 
1  agam,  though 
hul  gained  on 
some,  than  on 
which  was  ex> 
bout  two  and  a 

rite  to  leeward, 
a  half  miles ; 
:,  distant  about 


1819.1 


NAVAL     HISTORY, 


253 


five  miles  i  and  the  Africa  was  hull  down  to  leeward,  on  the 

*'*'¥hU  wTs^'a  vast  improvement  on  the  state  of  things  that  had 
existed  the  day  previous,  and  it  allowed  the  officers  and  men 
to  catch  a  little  Test,  though  no  one  left  the  deck.  The  laU- 
Srby  observation  this  diy,  was  88«  47'  N.,  and  the  longitude 
by  dead  reckoning  73°  67  W.  w_^»  -«.! 

\i  meridian  th!  vind  began  to  blow  a  ?»•»«»»  ^re^e  "0 
the  sound  of  the  w.iter  rippling  under  the  fo*- f  »f e  ve««l 
was  airain  heard.  From  this  moment  the  noble  old  ship  slowly 
JwwIhL  of  all  her  pursuers,  the  sails  beicg  watcU  and 
tenLfirTthe  best  manner  that  consummate  seamanshjp  could 
SS.  untU  4  P.  M.,  when  the  Belvidera  wo,  more  than  four 
muS^ii,  and  the  other  ves^ls  y^«>J^Z  ^^ta, 
the  same  proportion,  though  thi  .  jA  had  agam  got  to  be  very 

X  this  manner  both  parties  kept  Prtw'^fitSfbv 
windward,  a.  fast  a.  circumst«nc«.  would  ""j '  P"^'';*^^^ 
every  change,  and  resorting  to  all  the  means  of  fo«»«  »rj^ 
through  thu  water,  that  axe  known  to  seamen.    At  a  little  be- 
fore  7,  however,  there  was  every  anpeajranoe  of  ^J^V  ^i"^^: 
S^mpanied  by  rain ;  when  the  dbnstitution  prepared  to  meet 
nrhTe^lness  akd  discretion  she  had  d»P^«»  ^J^f^ 
out  the  whole  aflSur.    The  people  were  stationea,  "d  ^e^^ 
thing  was  kept  fast  to  the  last  moment,  when,  just  before  the 
Squall  struck  the  ship,  the  order  was  given  to  ctewuD  andctew 
Swn.    All  the  Ught  canvass  was  furled,  a  second  ««  *" 
JS  in  the  mi««n.top«ul,  and  the  -Wpj^  >»^»  »°J" 
SK>rt  sail,  in  an  incrEy  Uttle  time.    The  EnglisT^  tcsmU, 
JSTrvSi  this,  began  to  let  go  and  haul  down  wijiout  waitog 
f^Kr^J^hen  they  were  shut  i» .  Jy  t^„«^>jy 
were  steering  in  dlflfeient  dinwtions  to  avoid  »»»&««» «  «• 
SSSeSdsqLl.    The  Constitution,  on  the  other  hand,  no 
SSgotft*  weight,  than  she  sheeted  home  «<»  ho-^d  her 

bably  believed  her  to  be  borne  down  by  the  pre«uw  of  the 
wind,  steering  fiee,  she  was  flying  away  from  them,  on  an 
easy  bowUne,  at  the  irate  of  eleven  Imots^ 
'  i  a  little  less  than  an  hour  after  the  sqiwll  atruck  the 
Ai^itwentirdypa-edtotejwwd^ 
ohiiuned  of  the  enemy.  The  Belvidera,  the  nearest  ywsrt,  nan 
SSSher  bearings  In  that  short  period  twopo^  "O^^ 
leewani.  and  she  was  a  long  way  astern.    The  next  nearest 

33 


,dligJidu<uiUiWk«M«lliMiaiMi 


254 


NAVAL    HIRTORT. 


[18U. 


<i 


vesoel  waa  still  farther  to  looward,  and  mom  distant,  while  the 
two  remaining  frigatea  were  fairly  hull  d.>wn.  The  Africa  was 
barelv  visible  in  the  horizon  I 

All  apprehensions  of  the  enemy  now  coosp  J,  though  soil  was 
carried  to  increase  the  distance,  and  to  preserve  the  weather- 
gage.  At  half-poot  10,  the  wind  bocked  further  to  the  south- 
ward, when  the  Constitution,  which  had  beer,  steering  free  for 
some  time,  took  in  her  lower  studding-sails.  At  11  the  enemy 
fired  two  guns,  and  the  nearest  ship  could  just  be  discerned. 
As  the  wind  baffled,  and  continued  light,  the  enemy  still  perse- 
vered in  the  chase,  but  at  daylight  the  nearest  ^rsacl  was  hull 
down  astern  and  to  leeward.  Under  the  circumstanrcs  it  was 
deemed  prudent  to  use  every  exertion  to  lose  sig.it  of  the 
English  frigates ;  and  the  wind  falling  light,  the  Constitution's 
sails  were  wet  down  from  the  skysails  to  the  courses.  The 
good  effects  of  this  care  were  soon  visible,  as  at  6  A.  M.  the 
topsails  of  the  enemy's  nearest  vessels  were  beginning  to  dip. 
At  a  quarter  pg^t  6,  the  English  ships  all  hauled  to  the  north- 
ward and  eastward,  fully  satisfied,  by  a  triol  that  had  lasted 
nearly  three  days,  and  ss  many  nights,  under  all  the  circum- 
stances that  can  attend  naval  mancBuvres,  from  reefed  top- 
sails to.kedging,  that  they  had  no  hope  of  overtaking  their 
enemy. 

Thus  terminated  a  chase,  that  has  become  historical  in  the 
American  navy,  for  its  length,  closeness,  and  activity.  On 
the  part  of  the  English,  there  were  manifested  much  perse- 
verance and  seamanship,  a  ready  imitation,  and  a  strong  desire 
to  get  alongside  of  their  enemy.  But  the  slory  of  the  aflbir 
was  carried  off  by  the  officers  and  people  of  the  Constitution. 
Throughout  all  the  tryin||circumstAnoes  of  this  arduous  strug- 
gle, this  noble  frioate,  which  had  so  lately  been  the  subject  of 
the  sneers  of  the  English  critics,  maintained  the  high  character 
of  a  man-of-war.  Even  when  pressed  upon  the  hardest,  no- 
thing was  hurried,  confused,  or  slovenly ;  but  the  utmost  steadi- 
ness, order,  and  discipline  reigned  in  the  ship.  A  cool,  dis- 
creet, and  gallant  oomnuoder,  was  noblv  sustained  by  his 
officers ;  acd  there  cannot  be  a  doubt  that  had  the  enemv  suc- 
ceeded in  gctdng  any  one  of  their  frioates  fairly  under  the  fire 
of  the  Americati  ship,  that  she  wouiJ  have  been  very  roughly 
treated.  The  eiicape  itself,  is  not  so  much  a  matter  of  admi- 
ration,  as  the  manner  in  which  it  was  effected.  A  little  water 
was  pumped  out,  it  is  true,  and  perhops  this  was  necessary,  io 
order  to  put  a  vessel  fresh  firom  port  on  a  level,  in  l^ht  winds 


•^^ 


k 


■  —    ■  •■■^u.m.aiiiriiiinaatiiiiiM 


iltU'Wl 


[ISU. 

ifltant,  whilo  the 
The  Africa  was 

,  though  sail  waa 
•ve  the  weather- 
ler  to  tho  south- 
steering  free  for 
Lt  1 1  the  etieroy 
St  be  disccrneJ. 
lomy  Still  perse- 
;  tesacl  was  hull 
imstances  it  was 
«o  sigiit  of  the 
lie  Constitution's 
9  courses.  The 
>  at  6  A.  M.  the 
eginning  to  dip. 
led  to  the  nortn- 
that  had  lasted 
r  all  the  circum* 
irom  reefed  top- 
jvertaking  their 

historical  in  the 
i  activity.  On 
ed  much  perse- 
l  a  strong  desire 
ry  of  the  aflSiir 
he  Constitution. 
s  arduous  strug- 
n  the  subject  of 
3  high  character 
the  hardest,  no- 
te utnnoat  steadi- 
p.  A  cool,  dis- 
jstained  by  his 
the«aeiny  suc- 
y  under  the  fire 
m  Tery  roughly 
natter  of  adnu- 
A  little  water 
u  necessary,  in 
I,  in  light  winds 


s» 


iei9.] 


KAYAL   HIBTORY. 


255 


MtlMMMIliiMferllUM 


an.l  calms,  with  ships  that  hnd  been  cruising  some  time ;  irtit 
not  an  anchor  was  cut  rway,  not  a  boat  stove,  nor  a  gun  lo*. 
The^trdy  and  man-ot wartlike  style  m  which  the  ConBUU|t,on 
took  in  all  her  boats,  as  or<  ^viions  offered ;  iho  order  and  ra- 
pidity with  which  she  kcdgod,  and  tho  vigilant  seama.. ship 
with  which  she  was  braced  up  and  cased  oti^  extorted  admiia- 
tion  among  tho  more  liberul  c.  her  pursuers,  'ntj''  »«•''• 
the  ship,  no  less  than  those  who  worked  her,  gained  a  high 
p.puuitbn,  if  not  witi .  the  world  gcn.mlljr.  at  least  with  those 
who,  perhaps,  as  seldom  err  in  their  nautical  cnticwms  oa  any 

nPhe  English  relinquished  the  pursuit  at  8  A.  M.,  and  at 
half-past  8  the  Constitution,  discovering  a  vessel  on  her  star- 
boarTbow,  made  sail  in  chase  At  three-quarters  jast  9 
bMUKht  to,  and  spoke  an  American  bng.  At  10  made  sail 
3  in  Cham,  of  another  ve««l  on  the  lee  bow.  which  al^ 
p^ved  to  bo  an  American,  bound  u..  At  mendmn,  hoisted  >n 
the  boat  used  in  boarding,  took  a  «>cond  reef  m  he  topw  Is, 
and  stood  to  the  eastward,  the  ship  going  mto  Boston  near  the 
middle  of  the  same  month.  .     .      ,.    «    ,•  c 

A  few  days  after  the  chase  of  the  (institution,  the  Engliijh 
squadron  separated,  the  Africa  returning  to  port  *'«>»» 
Sisoner.  anrprixes,  and  tho  Agates  -haping  their  oours«.m 
Siflerent  directions,  in  the  hope  that  the  ship  which  had  avoided 
them  so  carefully  when  in  company,  might  be  less  averse  to 

'™TSS»xVaI*Kptain  Porter,  got  to  sea  from  New  York, 
not  long  after  the  departure  of  Commodore  Rogers,  and  went 
first  to  the  southward.  She  made  several  pnites  ear^y^»~y- 
ing  roost  of  their.,  and  receiving  the  prisoners  on  board.  J  •» 
wither  now  compelled  the  B»ex  to  run  to  the  northward. 
When  a  few  weeks  from  port,  a  small  fleet  was  approached  a 
night,  which  WM  immediately  understood  to  »«  enemies.  Ouj 
ofthis  fleet  the  Essex  succeeded  in  getting  a  "Wp.  On  taking 
2,Z.ion  of  her  prixe,it  was  foand  fillofwith  «>«««".  "f^ 
imwTtime  was  necemrily  consumed  m  •~}'n''8  ^J*^^^ 
that  the  day  dawned,  and  't^ecame  inexpedient  to  renew  tto 

attempt  on  the  convoy.  The  fn««<«  *""  ^jJ'f^^iJ'iiSo 
nerva  86,  and  the  troops  in  the  convoy  amoUBted  to  near  luw 
men.    About  160  were  taken  in  the  prke. 

A  ffew  days  after  this  success,  the  Esses  made  a  atrsnge 
s«l  tn  windWard.  At  the  moment,  the  frigate  was  disgauwd 
as  a  merohantman,  having  her  gmi-deck  ports  in,  to^gallant 


r  ' 


3M 


NAVAL    UIMTORT. 


[1818. 


niMta  houaed,  and  mIIi  Irimmed  in  a  iloveniy  manner.  Dfl> 
oaived  by  these  appearances,  the  stranger  came  running  down 
flrM,  when  the  American  ship  showed  her  cijiign  and  kept 
away,  under  short  sail.  This  emloldcnod  the  stran^r,  who 
followed,  and  having  got  on  the  weather  quarter  of  his  chase, 
he  bogui  his  Are,  aotUng  English  colours.  The  Essex  now 
knocked  out  her  ports,  and  onened  upon  the  enemy,  who  ap* 
pears  to  have  been  so  muoh  taaon  by  surprise,  that  attcr  receiv- 
ing one  or  two  discharges,  his  people  deserted  thoir  quarters,  and 
ran  below.  In  eight  minutes  after  V\<  •  ^aaox  had  besun  to  fire, 
the  English  ship  struck.  On  sondiu^  Lieutenant  r inch*  on 
board  to  take  possession,  the  priae  proved  to  be  his  Britannic 
Mi^ty's  ship  Alert,  Captain  Laughame,  mounting  20  eigh* 
taeo-pound  oarronadM,  and  with  a  full  crew.  Mr.  Finch 
found  seven  foot  o(  water  in  the  Alert,  and  was  obliged  to  ware 
round,  to  keep  her  flrom  sinking. 

The  Alert  was  the  first  vesseTof  war  taken  from  the  English 
in  this  oooteat,  and  her  resistanoe  was  so  feeble  as  to  excite 
■urpriae.  It  was  Dot  to  be  expected,  certainly,  that  a  ship  car* 
rving  dghteen-pound  csrronadea,  could  succeasfliUy  resist  a 
■hip  carrying  tnirtr-two-pound  oarronades,  and  double  her 
number  of  guns  and  men ;  but  so  exaggerated  had  become  the 
opinioD  of  the  British  prowess  on  the  ocean,  that  impossibilities 
war*  somatimes  looked  for.  As  it  is  understood  that  only  a 
part  of  tlie  Bwsx'a  guns  bore  on  the  Alert,  the  manner  in 
which  the  latter  was  taken,  must  be  attributed  to  a  sudden 
pnnk]  among  her  people,  some  of  whom  were  censurvd  after 
their  exohaiwe.  One  or  two  of  the  officers  even,  did  not 
esoape,  the  ftrst  lieutenant  hafing  been  dismissed  the  service, 
1^  a  oouit*n)artial.  The  Alert  had  but  three  men  wounded, 
udA  the  Bsaax  sustained  no  iniurv  at  all. 

Gkptain  Poitar,  with  the  addition  made  by  the  crew  of  the 
Akft,  had  many  priMwera,  and  he  ftlt  the  necessity  of  getting 
iM  of  them.  He  aeoordingly  entered  into  an  arrangement 
with  Oulnin  Laughame,  to  convert  the  Alert  into  a  cartel,  and 
to  sand  bar  into  K.  John's.  This  pfcjeet,  ao  ftvourabie  to  the 
Amerioan  intaiaila,  was  suooeasflilly  aocompliabed ;  aikl  it  is 
due  to  hia  eharaotar  to  say,  that  the  officer  in  command  at 
Ntwfoundiand,  AdmimI  Sir  J.  T.  Duckworth,  while  he  pro- 
toatod  agafaiat  the  ooune,  aa  unuraal  and  iiyurioas  to  a 
■alioa  Uka  England,  whioh  had  ao  many  cruisera  at  aaa,  by 

•NewOiplsiaBokaB. 


k 


.-teifei»ft^viv 


inly  mannor.  Dt> 
anw  running  down 
r  eijiign  and  kept 
I  tho  itran^r,  who 
larter  of  hu  chaae, 
The  Enex  now 
le  enemyi  who  ap* 
e,  that  alter  recoiv- 
I  their  quarter!,  and 
K  had  besun  to  fire, 
utonant  Finch*  on 
to  be  his  Britannic 
mounting  20  eigh< 
crew.  Mr.  Finch 
nM  obliged  to  ware 

n  firom  the  English 
feeble  as  to  eicite 
ily,  that  a  ship  car* 
iiooeMfliUy  reaiat  a 
I,  and  double  her 
ted  had  become  the 
,  that  imponibilitiea 
lerstood  that  only  a 
lert,  the  manner  in 
ibuted  to  a  sudden 
wvn  oenaurvd  after 
aers  even,  did  not 
misMd  the  service, 
me  men  wounded, 

by  the  crew  of  the 
necessity  of  getting 
to  an  arran^sment 
»rt  into  a  cartel,  and 
so  flivourabie  to  tlie 
•npUsbed ;  and  it  is 
oer  in  command  at 
orth,  while  he  pro- 
md  iiyurioas  to  a 
cruisers  t  sea,  by 


leit.] 


HATAL    HIITOIT. 


367 


dopriving  hrt  of  tho  chnncea  of  rocaptiir«»,  honourably  complied 
with  tho  conditions  ontcrod  into  by  his  aubordinate. 

The  Essex  continued  to  cruian  to  the  southward  of  the 
Grand  Banks.  On  two  occasions,  she  fell  in  with  enemy's 
frigates,  and  at  one  timo  was  so  hard  pressed,  as  to  be  reduced 
to  the  necessity  of  making  every  preparation  to  carry  one  by 
boarding  in  the  night,  since,  another  English  vessel  of  war 
being  in  company,  an  engagt^ment  in  tho  usual  manner  would 
have  boon  indiscreet.  Tho  arrangmonts  made  on  board  the 
Essex,  on  this  occasion,  are  still  spoken  of  with  admiration, 
by  those  who  were  in  the  ship ;  and  there  is  great  reaaon  to 
think  they  would  have  succeeded,  had  tho  veaaela  met.  By 
acme  accident,  that  haa  never  been  explained,  the  ahips  passed 
each  other  in  tho  darkness,  ond  shortly  after,  the  Essex  came 
into  the  Delaware  to  replenish  her  water  and  stores. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  Constitution  was  not  idle.  Remainina 
at  Boston  a  abort  time  after  hia  celebrated  chase,  Captain  HuU 
sailed  again  on  the  3d  of  Auaust,  standing  along  tiie  land  to 
the  eastward,  in  the  hope  of  AlTina  in  with  some  oftho  enemy's 
cruisers,  that  were  thought  to  be  novering  on  the  coast.  The 
ship  ran  down,  near  the  land,  as  far  as  tho  Bay  of  Fundy, 
without  seeing  any  thing,  when  she  went  off  Halirax  and  Capo 
Sable,  with  the  aame  want  of  sucoeaa.  Captain  Hull  now  de- 
termined to  00  (krther  eaat,  and  he  went  near  the  lale  of 
Sables,  and  thence  to  the  mouth  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
to  inteicept  veasels  bound  to  Halifax  or  Quebec.  Here  two 
prizes,  of  little  value,  were  taken  and  burned.  On  the  momins 
of  the  16th,  five  sail  were  made,  one  of  which  was  a  sloop  or 
war.  The  Constitution  gave  chase,  and  the  enemy  soon  eet 
one  of  his  vessels,  a  priie  brig,  on  fire.  The  chases  now  sepa> 
rated,  and  the  sloop  of  war  binng  to  windward,  theCcmstitution 
followed  a  ship,  which  turned  out  to  be  an  Englishman,  tA- 
ready  a  prize  to  an  American  privateer.  This  v<Mel  had  been 
spoken  by  the  sloop  of  war,  but  the  appearance  of  the  Consti- 
tution prevented  her  recapture.  A  bng  was  next  chased  to 
leeward,  ond  proved  to  be  an  American,  with  a  prize  crew  on 
board.  She  was  retaken,  and  sent  in.  The  remainder  of  the 
vessels  escaped. 

The  Constitution  next  stood  to  the  southward,  and  oo  the 
19th,  at  3  P.  M.,  in  lat.  4V  41',  long.  55<*  48*,  a  sail  wu 
made  from  the  mast-heads,  bearing  E.  S.  E.,  and  to  leeward, 
though  the  distance  prevented  her  character  firom  being  dis- 
covered. The  Constitution  immediatdy  made  sail  in  chase, 
33*  29 


^iitaitfiilittliliiiiillilitfiil^^ 


358 


NAVAL    HISTORf. 


tint 


and  at  8,  »hn  •truognr  wm  ucorUiiMxl  to  be  a  ihip  on  the  •tar- 
boeril  tack,  under  eaiy  canvaaa,  and  do*)  haukxl.     Half  an 
hour  lotcr,  i.ho  waa  dwtinctly  nuido  out  to  be  a  frigate,  and  no 
doubt  wa«  «3nt<!rtain«l  of  her  b.ing  an  omimy.     The  American 
■hip  kept  running  inw  until  «ih«)  wan  wiihin  a  league  of  the 
friffl.te  to  loeward,  when  ahe  began  to  thorten  lail.     By  thi» 
lime,  the  enemy  had  Inid  hia  main-topeail  aback,  in  waitmg  for 
the  Constitution  to  come  down,  with  every  thing  ready  to  en- 
mum.    Porajivina  that  the  tjigli«hman  sought  a  combat,  Cap- 
tain Hull  mado  lua  own  preparation,  with  the  greater  dulibera. 
tion.     The  Ctmstitution,  cnnB«'«iuc»lly,  rurU«d  her  toa-^jallant- 
sails,  and  stowed  all  her  light  stay-Hails  and  the  flymg  Jib. 
Soon  after,  she  took  a  second  roef  in  the  topMuls,  hauled  up 
the  courwM,  sent  down  royal-yarda,  cleared  for  action,  and 
beat  to  quarters.     At  B,  the  chase  hoisted  three  English  en- 
signs, and  immediately  after  she  opened  her  fire,  at  long  gun- 
shot, waring  several  times,  to  rake  and  prevent  being  raked. 
The  Constitution  occasionally  yawed  as  she  approached,  to 
•void  being  raked,  and  she  fired  a  few  guns  as  they  bore,  but 
her  object  was  not  to  c*mmenoe  the  action  aeriouslyt  until 

quite  cioae.  -.     j^   u-   .u 

At  6  o'clock,  the  enemy  bore  up,  and  ran  off  under  his  inree 
topsails  and  Jib,  with  the  wind  on  his  Quarter.  fAa  this  was  an 
indication  of  a  readineM  to  receive  his  antagonist,  in  a  ftiir 
yard-arm  and  yard-arm  fight,  the  Constitution  immediately  set 
her  raain-topgallant-sail  and  foresail,  to  (^  alongside.  At  a 
little  after  6,  Uie  bows  of  the  American  fngate  began  td  double 
ou  the  quarter  of  the  Enalish  ship,  when  she  opened  with  her 
forward  guns,  drawing  slowly  ahead,  with  her  greater  way, 
both  veeselo  keeping  up  a  close  and  heavy  fire,  as  their  guns 
boi«.  In  about  ten  minutes,  or  just  as  the  ships  were  fairly 
side  by  side,  the  roizxen-mast  of  the  Englishman  was  shot 
away,  when  the  American  passed  slowly  ahead,  keeping  up  a 
tromendous  fire,  and  lufied  short  round  the  bows  of  the  enerny, 
to  prevent  being  raked.  In  executing  this  manoDUvre,  the  ship 
shot  into  the  wind,  got  stemway,  and  fell  foul  of  her  antago- 
nist. While  in  this  situation,  the  cabin  of  the  Constitution  took 
fire  from  the  close  explosion  of  the  forward  guns  of  the  enemy, 
who  obtained  a  small,  but  momentary  advantage  from  his  oo- 
■itioo..  The  good  conduct  of  Mr.  Hofihuui,  who  commanded 
in  the  cabin,  soon  repaired  this  accident,  and  a  sun  of  the  ene- 
my's that  threatened  further  injury,  was  disabW. 
Afl  the  vessels  touched,  both  parties  prepared  to  board.  The 


^^iiiliiiiilHat 


(Illfl. 

It  ihip  on  th«  alar* 
haukxl.     ilatr  an 
)  »  frigtU),  and  no 
.    The  Amnrican 
n  a  league  of  th« 
ton  Mtil.     Ily  thia 
ack,  in  waiting  fur 
thing  ready  to  en* 
;ht  a  combat,  Cap* 
in  greater  dolibera* 
<d  nor  t()i)>gallant> 
ind  lh«)  flying  jib. 
topMiia,  haulud  up 
h1  fur  action,  aad 
three  Engiiah  en* 
r  fire,  at  long  aun* 
event  being  raKcd. 
ihe  approached,  to 
I  aa  they  bore,  but 
lon  aerioualyi  until 

off  under  hiathrea 
)r.  /Aa  thia  waa  an 
atagonist,  in  a  fkir 
ion  immediately  aet 
It  alongside.  At  a 
ate  began  td  double 
ihe  opened  with  her 
I  her  greater  way, 

fire,  aa  their  guns 
10  ships  were  fairly 
ffliahman  waa  ahot 
ihead,  keeping  up  a 
bowsortheonem^, 
manonivre,  the  ship 
foul  of  her  antago. 
he  Constitution  took 
1  guns  of  the  enemy, 
antage  from  his  do* 
in,  who  oommanoed 
nd  a  gunoftheene* 
isablra. 
«red  to  board.   The 


1119.] 


NAVAL     HliTORT. 


350 


English  tumr<l  all  hands  up  fVnm  below,  and  mustered  forward 
with  that  object,  while  Mr.  Morris,  the  ftrsi  lieutenant,  with  his 
own  haiidn  i*ii<k*avuur(Hi  to  Inah  tho  Nlii|iM  tog(>th«r.  Mr.  Alwyn, 
iho  iiuMtiT,  nnil  Mr.  liimh,  thn  luutonnntot  iimrines,  witro  u|ion 
the  tati'rail  of  th«!  Couittitution,  Ui  Im  nmdy  tu  apring.  lioth 
aidiM  now  suflcrrd  by  thu  cliMicnrm  of  tho  muskclry  ;  lh<)  lOng. 
lish  much  Ihe  nKMl,  however.  t4t.  Morris  waa  shot  through 
the  body,  the  bullet  ibrtunutoiy  mik.^inff  the  vitals.  Mr.  Alwyn 
was  woundH  in  the  whuukkir,  and  Mr.  Hush  foil  by  a  bul* 
let  thruui{h  tlw  iH'nd.  It  being  fouiiil  im|MMiiiiblo  for  cither  {mrly 
to  board,  in  the  face  of  Huch  a  lirti.nnd  with  the  lH!avy  iM!a  that 
waa  on,  Iho  sails  worn  filled,  and  ju«t  as  the  Constitution  shot 
ahead,  thu  foremast  of  the  enemy  full,  carrying  down  with  it 
his  mainmast,  and  leaving  him  wallowing  in  the  trough  of  the 
sea,  a  helpleaa  wreck. 

The  Constitution  now  hauled  aboard  her  tacks,  ran  off  a 
short  distance,  secured  her  maUs,  and  rove  new  rig|;ing.  At 
7,  she  woro  round,  and  taking  a  favourable  position  lor  roking , 
A  jack  that  had  bmn  kept  flying  on  the  utump  of  the  mizxen* 
mast  of  the  on««nr.y,  was  lowerud,  Mr.  tJoorgo  Campbell 
Read,*  the  third  lieutenant,  was  sent  on  board  the  prize,  and 
the  boat  soon  returned  with  the  n<port  that  tho  captured  vessel 
waa  the  Guerriero  88,  Captain  Dacres,  ono  of  the  ships  that 
had  so  lately  chased  the  Constitutbn,  off  New  York. 

The  Constitution  kept  waring  to  remain  near  her  prize,  and 
at  3  A.  M.,  a  strange  sail  yinm  seen  closing,  when  she  cleared 
for  action  ;  but  at  thmo,  the  stranger  hIuc^  off.  At  daylight, 
the  officer  in  charge  hailed  to  say  that  th«  Guerriare  hod  four 
feet  water  in  her  hold,  and  that  there  waa  danoer  of  her  sink* 
ing.    On  receiving  this  information,  Captain  Hull  sent  all  his  i 

boata  to  remove  tho  prisoners.  Fortunatciv,  the  weather  was 
moderate,  and  by  noon  this  duty  waa  nearly  ended.  At  8  P. 
M.,  the  prize  crew  waa  rocatlod,  having  set  the  wreck  on  fire ; 
and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  the  Guerrierc  blow  up.  Finding 
himself  incumbered  with  wounded  prisoners,  Captam  Hull  now 
returned  to  Boston,  where  he  arrived  on  the  SOth  of  the  same 
month. 

It  is  not  easy,  at  thia  distant  day,  to  oonfey  to  the  reader  the      V 
fiiU  force  of  tlie  moral  impreaaion  created  in  America  bv  this        \ 
victory  of  one  fVigate  over  another.    So  deep  had  been  the  ef* 
ftet  pfoduoed  on  the  pubiki  mind  by  the  constant  acoounia  of 
the  aucoesaea  of  the  Bogliah  over  their  eneniea  at  aea,  that  the 


^OsBNBodats  Road,  lats  ia 


aftlM  Bsat  ladU 


^^j^^^MtMii 


rtiiii 


mmm^rn 


360 


HATAL    MlitOir. 


[itlM, 


opiokM  of  lh«lr  ln»inc!ib«lHy  on  thai  «l^nwnt.  .Irw-ly  iiwiv 
tiuMd,  MW»r»lly  prf vailed i  ana  il  h«.l  liw'i*  i»ubiw'iy  (.r«ii.i«i, 
that  below  th«  mMml  h«<i  contmiMsd  tii  itiDntha,  Hntwh  .Ujojw 
of  war  would  Iw  al<.n««idoof  AnwHcan  rngatwi  wiih  com|»ara' 
liv«   Impunily.     I'«rlm|)a  ihe  .mly  pnrti«>n  of  th«  Amarican 
•Miiulalion  Ihal  nsp.H'U.d  .liJfrrrni  rwiulti.,  waa  Ihat  whi«'hconv. 
poUl  the  liuki  bcjdy  of  <.mc«ni  on  wlvmi  lh«  trial  woul.l  Fall, 
Mdavra  lh«y  looked  forward  lo  the  aUuggle  wUh  a  manly  tm.^ 
lullon,  r»therth«n  with  n  »«ry  ronfident  hope.     Ilutclw  t«rnu. 
nation  of  the  csombat  juat  related,  very  (kt  esceedml  the  e«|»ct«- 
tioM  of  the  moel  aanKuino.     After  making  all  proper  allow. 
toco  for  the  dillbr«n<:«  of  force  which  crrtajnly  eilated  in  fa. 
TOUr  v;*  the  Uonatitmion,  aa  well  aa  for  the  oicuaiw  that  tfie 
ddtetod  party  iWely  oflbiwl  to  the  world;  men  on  »K)th  »ul.< 
of  the  Allantlo,  who  were  comprtent  tr  form  intelligent  opin. 
iona  on  auch  auhjooy,  aaw  the  promiae  of  many  foture  auc 
^B-^  in  thii.    The  atyte  in  which  the  ConaUtution  h«d  been 
handled ;  the  deliberate  and  yet  earneat  mwiner  in  which  hIm 
had  bean  carried  into  battle  j  the  eitraordinary  execution  that 
had  bewi  done  in  ao  abort  a  time  by  her  Are ;  the  readineaa 
and  gallantry  with  whl.  h  ahe  had  cleared  for  action,  ao  eoon 
after  deetroyinf  one  Britiah  frigate,  in  which  waa  nianifcatcd  a 
diapoaition  to  meet  another,  unit«l  to  produce  a  <ky  convio. 
tlonof  aalf-r«llanoe,  ooolneaa,  and  akilt,  that  waa  of  ml  niioly 
mora  wdght  than  the  tranaient  foaling  which  might  reault  from 
any  aooidHital  triumph.  .  .    ,      l  . 

In  thia  combat,  the  Conatltution  auffcred  a  good  deal  in  her 
rinini  andl  aaila,  but  very  little  in  her  hull.  Hor  low  waa 
aavenlillled,  and  aeven  wounded.  Aa  aoon  aa  ahe  had  rove 
new  riggiiiB.  applied  the  necoaaary  atoppera,  and  bent  a  few 
aaila,  m  haa  been  aeen,  ahe  waa  ready  to  engage  «n.rther  In- 
g«le.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Guerriere  waa  completely  dia- 
maatwi,  had  eeveaty-nlne  killed  and  wounded,  and,  according 
to  the  aUtemtnt  of  her  commander  in  hia  defence,  before  the 
oourt  which  tried  him  for  the  loee  of  hia  ahip,  ahe  had  received 
no  leaa  than  thirty  »hot  aa  low  aa  five  aheeto  of  cooper  beneath 
the  bendal  All  thia  aieeution  had  been  done  between  the 
time  when  the  ahipa  opened  their  fire  abeam,  and  the  moment 
when  the  Ouerrieie'a  maata  foll{  tor  the  few  ahot  thrown  by 
the  Conatitulion,  previoualy  to  tho  firat  event,  were  virtually 
of  no  uaa,  and,  aubaequentiv  to  tho  laa^  ahe  did  not  diacharge 
•  gun.  The  whole  period,"  between  the  time  when  the  Guer- 
riere  commenced  hor  ftrc  at  long  shot,  and  that  whan  •■•  ac- 


mflm 


mm 


il,  alnHuty  iMiv 
iblMiy  pm«ii<i«l, 
ha,  llritmh  aUiMtMi 
M  With  cum|Mira> 
if  (ha  American 
th«t  which  root- 
trini  wouM  rail, 
ith  a  manly  tvm>- 
Hut  Ihfl  urnii- 
imimi  the  eiiwct*. 
all  propjr  allow- 
nly  fliiMnd  in  fft* 
I  oicimmi  that  th« 
nen  on  U>th  «id<^ 
I  intnlliKfint  opin- 
nnany  fUturo  auc- 
lUtulion  h«<l  been 
incr  in  which  nIw 
iry  oxncutinn  that 
l« ;  the  readintiaa 
r  action,  ao  aoon 
waa  nwniftated  a 
ce  a  do«*p  convic* 
t  waa  or  infinitely 
might  reault  from 

I  good  deal  in  her 
I.  Her  loaa  waa 
n  H  ahe  had  rovo 
,  and  bent  n  few 
ngage  another  fri* 
aa  complolely  dia« 
jd,  and,  according 
efence,  before  the 
>,  abe  had  received 
I  of  copper  beneath 
done  netween  the 
I,  and  the  moment 
w  ahot  thrown  by 
mt,  were  Tirtually 
I  did  not  diacharfp 
ie  when  the  Ouer> 
that  when  alw  «c* 


int.] 


NATAL    NIlTORVi 


Ml 


lually  haul«d  down  her  jack,  anmnlhlng  like  two  houra  wm 
in<:iutieii  in  th<<  i<niifny 'a  ai'CiHints  of  thn  <-iiirat)tj{i  of  the  r.iinbat  { 
but  It  ia  well  un<i<ir«too(l  by  prolVvaioiml  inon,  (hat  in  truth  th* 
battle  waa  il«<ci(l<'d  in  aliuiit  a  I'oiirth  urtbn(  lirrw. 

(^p(ain  Dacnw  loa{  no  prnfraMional  n<pu(a(ion  by  hia  dcfaat. 
He  had  handltMi  hia  ahip  in  a  rnarner  to  win  the  applauae  oT 
hia  enemioa,  fought  h<^r  gallantly,  and  only  aubmitted  when 
f\irth<^r  miatancn  would  have  b>«n  nf'arly  impoMibln.  Ii«ae 
can  hi.  aaid  in  Ikvour  of  the  <i(n<-wncy  of  (hn  (iunrrtdm'a  bat* 
tnriea,  which  wcm  not  c«|iial  to  thn  mode  of  Aghling  that  had 
beeu  introdutwd  by  her  antagonial,  and  which,  in  (kt:t,  waa 
the  commencement  of  a  new  era  in  combata  between  aingit 
ahipa. 

VVo  have  dwell  at  length  on  the  circumatancoa  connected 
with  thia  action,  not  only  bocauan  ii  waa  thn  firat  acrioua  con< 
diet  of  the  war,  but  biH^auan  it  waa  charnctfiriaed  by  foaturee 
which,  though  novel  at  the  timas  becamo  identifie«i  with  nearly 
all  the  auboeauent  engagrmcnta  of  tlie  conteat,  ahowing  that 
they  were  intimately  connected  with  the  diacipline  and  ayatem 
of  (n«  AnMirican  mniinc, 

('npdiin  (lull  hnving  performed  (he  two  handaome  exploits 
recorded,  now  gave  up  tne  command  of  hia  frigate,  in  order  to 
allow  othera  an  enual  chance  to  diatlnguiah  themaelvea,  there 
being  unfortunately  many  more  captaina  than  voaaela  in  the 
navy,  at  that  trying  moment.  Captain  llainbridge  waa  named 
to  be  hia  auccoaaor,  being  tranalornnl  (V«)m  the  Conatellation 
38,  then  fitting  for  aea  at  Waahington,  to  the  Conatitution. 

Aa  Captain  Bainbridge  waa  aub  of  the  oldeat  oflloera  of  his 
rank  in  tne  aervioe,  he  waa  given  a  command  conaiating  of  his 
own  ahip,  the  Eaoei  89,  and  the  Hornet  18.  He  hoiatod  his 
broad  pennant  on  board  the  Constitution,  aooordingly,  on  ths 
Iftth  of  September,  at  Boston.  Captain  Stewart,  lately  re< 
turned  ftom  a  ibrlough,  waa  appointed  to  the  Conatellation  .*M, 
and  Mr.  Charles  Morris,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Constitution, 
in  the  chase  and  in  (he  battle,  was  ahortly  sfter  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  captain,  passing  the  step  of  master-commandant,  as 
had  been  the  case  with  Commodore  Decatur. 


^J*. 


\  /I 


MiteM 


909 


NAVAL    H18T0BT, 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


(181t 


CoMOKKM  did  nothing  of  any  moment  towards  increasing 
the  navy,  on  the  ocean,  during  the  year  1812,  althouah  war 
waa  declared  in  June.  This  neglect  of  bo  important  a  branch 
of  the  public  service,  under  circumstances  that  would  seem  so 
imperiously  ♦o  call  for  the  fostering  care  and  active  exertionc 
.-.f  the  government,  must  be  ascribed  to  the  doubts  that  still  ex- 
isted as  to  the  posmbili'y  of  keeping  ships  at  sea,  in  face  of  the 
British  navy.  It  l.ad  been  customary  to  say,  that  France, 
whenever  she  put  a  ship  into  the  water,  was  merely  building 
for  her  great  enemy ;  and  au  opinion  was  prevalent,  that  Amen- 
ca  would  be  doing  the  same  thing,  if  she  wasted  her  issour^ 
in  creating  a  marine ;  thus  rendering  it  literally  necessary  for 
the  accoinpliohed  officers  who  compose!  the  germ  oi  the  sflr- 
vice,  to  demonstrate,  from  fact  to  foct,  their  ability  to  maintain 
the  honour  of  the  country,  before  that  country  would  frankly 
confide  to  them  the  means.  ,      ..  ,  j 

Commodore  Rodgers,  having  refitted,  sailed  on  a  second 
cruise,  leaving  the  Hornet  in  port;  but  Commodore  Decatur, 
in  the  United  States  44,  and  the  Argus  16,  Captam  Sinclair, 
parted  company  with  him,  at  pea,  on  the  12th  of  October,  after 
cruising  some  time  without  falling  in  with  any  thing  (rf  im- 
portance.    On  the  17th,  he  captu.-ed  the  Bntish  packet  Swai- 
low,  with  a  large  amount  of  specie  on  board,  and  continued 
his  cruise  to  the  eastward.    In  the  mean  while,  the  Uniied 
States  and  Argus  having  separated,  the  former  stood  more  to 
the  southward  and  eastward,  with  a  view  to  get  intc  the  track 
of  the  enemy's  Indiamen.    8urt.lay,  October  asth,  the  United 
States,  then  in  lat.  £9"  N.,  long.  29"  40'  W.,  made  a  large 
sail  to  the  southward  and  eastward.    The  stranger  was  run- 
ning  down  a  little  frse,  while  the  American  ship  was  on  *  wmd, 
sianding  towards  the  chase,  which  was  soon  ascertained  to  be 
an  enemy.  The  latter  having  come  with-n  a  league,  hauled  up, 
end  passed  to  wmdward,  when,  each  party  was  enabled  to  see 
that  it*ad  a  frigate  -^  oppose.    The  stranger  now  wore  and 
came  round  on  the  same  tack  as  the  United  States,  keeping 
away  sufficiently  to  get  wUliin  reach  of  her  long  guns,  wheii 
she  hauled  up  on  an  eaay  bowline,  with  her  mizzeo-topsaJ 


.    . 


«i)iil 


Mi. 


:^k^ 


(181* 


1819.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


263 


twards  increasing 
)12,  although  war 
nportant  a  branch 
lat  would  Bcem  so 
id  active  exertions 
oubts  that  still  ex- 
sea,  in  face  of  the 
say,  that  France, 
a  merely  building 
yalont,  that  Amen- 
sted  her  lesourccs 
•ally  necessary  for 
germ  oi  the  ant- 
ability  to  maintain 
ntry  would  frankly 

oiled  on  a  second 
mmodore  Decatur, 
,  Captain  Sinclair, 
;h  of  October,  after 

any  thing  of  im- 
ritish  packet  Swal- 
Eurd,  and  continued 
I  while,  the  Uniied 
rmer  stood  more  to 
>  get  intc  the  track 
it  26th,  the  United 
W.,  made  a  large 

stranger  was  run- 
ship  was  on  a  wind, 
n  ascertained  to  be 
a  league,  hauled  up, 
was  enabled  to  see 
iger  now  wore  and 
ited  States,  keeping 
jr  long  guns,  whep 

her  mizzen-t<^sail 


ttbLck,  At  this  moment  the  distance  between  the  two  ships 
a  little  exceeded  a  mile,  when  the  Englishman  opened  hisfire. 
Finding  the  enemy  on  his  weather  quarter.  Commodore  Deca- 
tur delivered  his  larboard  broadside,  wore  round,  nnd  came  up 
to  the  wind  on  the  other  tack,  heading  northerly.  It  wjw  ob- 
served that  all  the  carronade-shot  fell  short,  the  enemy  doing 
very  little  injury  by  his  fire.  ^  .    ,  «  j  ■•        i 

Having  passed  her  antagonist,  the  United  States  delivered 
her  starboard  broadside,  and  wore  again,  bringing  her  head 
once  more  to  the  southward,  or  on  the  same  tack  as  the  ene- 
my,  both  ships  steering  rap  full,  with  their  mizzen-topsails 
abnck,  and  keeping  up  a  heavy  cannonade.    In  this  maimer 
the  action  continued  about  an  hour,  the  English  vessel  sutrer- 
ing  heavily,  while  her  own  fire  inflicted  very  little  injury  on 
her  antagonist.    At  length  the  stranger's  mizzen-mast  came 
down  over  hij  leu  quarter,  having  been  shot  away  about  tea 
feet  above  the  dwk.    He  then  fell  off,  and  let  his  foresail  drop, 
apparently  with  a  wish  to  close.    As  the  ships  got  near  to- 
gether, the  shot  of  the  American  vessel  did  fearful  execution, 
the  fore-course  being  soon  in  ribands,  the  fore  and  main-top- 
masts  over  the  side,  the  main-yard  cut  away  in  the  slings,  and 
the  foremast  tottering.    The  United  States  now  filled  her  miz- 
sten-topsc  M,  gathered  fresh  way,  and  tacked.    As  the  stranger 
was  drifting  down,  nearly  before  the  wind,  and  was  almost  un- 
manageab'e.  Commodore  Decatur  had  no  difficulty  m  heodmg 
up  high  enough  to  cross  hia  wake,  which  he  handsomely  ef- 
fected, with  his  people  still  manning  the  larboard  guns.    At 
the  time  the  United  States  filled  her  mizxen-topsail,  in  prepa- 
ntiion  for  stays,  it  is  said  that  the  enemy,  under  the  impression 
slie  was  about  to  run  away,  gave  three  cheery  and  set  a  union 
jack  in  his  main  rigging,  all  his  other  flags  having  come  down 
with  the  sov«ral  spars.    When,  however,  the  Amen<»n  ship 
was  seen  luffing  up  to  clow,  the  jack  was  lowered,  and  resist- 
ance  ceaaed.  ,  ,    _    ,...._ 

As  the  United  States  crossed  the  stem  of  the  Englwh  ship, 
the  firing  having  ceased  on  both  sides,  she  hailed  and  demand- 
ed the  name  of  her  antagonist,  add  whether  she  had  submitted. 
To  the  first  interrogatory,  Comraodoie  Deeatur  was  answered 
that  the  ship  was  the  Macedonian  88,  Captain  Garden,  and  to 
the  second,  that  the  vessel  had  struck.  On^kin|  posseaeion, 
th6  enemy  was  found  feerfiilly  cut  to  pieces,  having  wceived 
no  len  than  a  hundred  round  shot  in  his  hull  alone.    Of  three 


iSf^s^iiaiiiMliiiiliMi^ 


^ 


264 


NAVAL     HI8T0RT. 


tint 


hundred  men  on  board  him,  thirty  aix  were  killed,  and  aizty* 
ei^rfit  wounded. 

The  Macedonian  waa  a  very  fine  ship  of  her  class,  mount- 
ing, as  usual,  49  guns ;  eighteens  on  her  gun-deck,  and  tliirty- 
two-pound  carronades  above.  She  was  amaller,  of  lighter 
armament,  and  had  fewer  men  than  her  opponent  of  course, 
but  the  disproportion  between  the  force  of  the  two  vessels,  was 
much  less  than  that  between  the  execution.  In  this  action, 
the  advantage  of  position  was  with  the  British  ship  until  she 
was  crippled,  and  the  combat  was  little  more  than  a  plain  can* 
nonade,  at  a  distance  that  rendered  grape  or  musketry  of  little 
or  no  use,  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  The  fire  of  the 
United  States  took  effect  so  heavily  in  the  waist  of  her  antago- 
nist, that  it  is  said  the  marines  of  the  latter  were  removed  to 
the  batteries,  which  circumstance  increased  the  efficiency  of 
the  ship,  by  enabling  new  crews  to  be  placed  at  guns  that  had 
been  once  cleared  of  their  men.  On  the  other  hand,  the  ma- 
rines of  the  United  States  remained  drawn  up  in  the  waist  of 
that  ship,  most  of  the  time  quite  useless,  though  they  are  un- 
derstood to  have  shown  the  utmost  steadiness  and  good  con- 
duct under  the  example  of  their  gallant  commander,  the  weight 
of  the  enemy's  fire  passing  a  short  distance  above  their  heads. 

The  United  States  suffered  surprisingly  little,  co..side.'ing 
the  length  of  the  cannonade,  and  her  equal  exposure.  She 
lost  one  of  her  top-gallant  masts,  received  some  wounds  in  the 
spars,  had  a  good  deal  of  rigging  cut,  and  was  otherwise 
injured  aloft,  but  was  hulled  a  very  few  times.  Of  her  ofiicera 
and  people  6  were  killed  and  7  wounded.  Of  the  latter,  two 
died,  one  of  whom  waa  Mr.  John  Musser  Funk,  the  junior  lieu- 
tenant of  the  ship.    No  other  officer  was  hurt. 

On  taking  possession  of  his  prize,  C!ommodore  Decatur 
found  her  in  a  state  that  admitted  of  her  beiag  taken  into  port. 
When  the  necessary  repairs  were  completed,  the  two  ships  made 
the  best  of  their  way  to  America ;  Commodore  Decatur  dis- 
continuing the  cruiije,  in  order  to  convoy  his  prize  into  port. 
The  United  States  arrived  off*  New  London  on  the  4th  of  De- 
cember, and  about  the  same  time  tka  Macedonian  got  into  New- 
gtrt.  Shortly  after,  both  ships  reached  New  York  by  the 
ell  Gate  passaae. 

The  order  and  style  with  which  the  Macedonian  was  taken, 
added  materially  to  the  high  reputation  that  Conunodore  De- 
catur already  enjoyed.  His  services  were  acknowlHs^  is 
the  usual  manner,  and  he  was  soon  after  directed  to  cruise  in 


:?tfe.vA 


iMiMMiiiiMHii 


[1819 
killed,  and  aixty* 

her  class,  mount* 
•deck,  and  tliirty- 
(nailer,  of  lighter 
ponent  of  course, 
I  two  vessels,  was 
,  In  this  action, 
ish  Khip  until  she 
than  a  plain  can* 
musketry  of  littlo 
The  fire  of  the 
list  of  her  antago- 
■  were  removed  to 
the  efficiency  of 
I  at  guns  that  had 
ler  hand,  the  ma* 
ip  in  the  waist  of 
}ugh  they  are  un* 
iss  and  good  con* 
lander,  the  weight 
tbove  their  heads, 
little,  coa.sidei.'ing 
tl  exposure.  She 
Die  wounds  in  the 
id  was  otherwise 
I.  Of  her  officers 
Of  the  latter,  two 
ik,  the  junior  lieu* 
pt. 

nmodore  Decatur 
£  taken  into  port, 
he  two  ships  made 
ore  Decatur  dis* 
lis  prize  into  port, 
on  the  4th  of  De* 
lian  got  into  New* 
ew  York  by  the 

bnian  was  taken, 

Commodore  De* 

acknowledged  is 

ccted  to  cruise  in 


1819.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


265 


the  United  States,  with  the  Macedonian,  Captain  Jones,  in 
company.  Mr.  Allen,  tho  first  lieutenant  of  the  United  States, 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  a  master-commandant,  and  he 
received  due  credit  for  tho  steady  discipline  that  the  ship's  com* 
pany  had  displayed. 

The  Argus,  under  Captain  Sinclair,  aflcr  separating  from 
the  United  States,  cruised  alone,  making  several  captures  of 
merchantmen,  though  she  met  no  vessel  of  war,  of  a  force 
proper  for  her  to  engage. 

While  these  events  were  in  the  course  of  accomplishment, 
the  Wasp  13,  Captain  Jones,  left  the  Delaware  on  a  cruise. 
She  was  one  of  the  sloops  built  at  the  close  of  the  Tripolitan 
war,  and  like  her  sister  ship  the  Hornet,  a  beautiful  and 
fast  cruiser.  The  latter,  however,  which  originally  was  a 
brig,  had  been  rebuilt,  or  extensively  repaired  at  Washington, 
on  which  occasion,  she  had  been  pierced  for  twenty  guns,  and 
rigged  into  a  ship.  The  Wasp  still  retained  her  old  armament 
and  construction,  having  been  a  ship  from  the  first,  mounting 
16  thirty-two  pound  carronadcs  and  3  long  twelves.  Her  com* 
plement  of  men  varied  from  180  to  160,  according  to  circum* 
stances.  She  had  been  to  Europe  with  despatches  before  the 
declaration  of  war,  and  did  not  return  home  until  some  week* 
after  hostilities  had  commenced. 

The  Wasp,  after  refitting,  sailed  on  a  cruise  to  the  north* 
ward.  She  ran  off  Boston,  made  one  capture,  and  after  an  ab* 
sence  of  three  weeks,  returned  to  the  Delaware.  On  the  13th 
of  October,  she  sailed  a  second  time,  and  ran  off  east,  southerly, 
to  clear  the  coast,  and  to  get  into  the  track  of  vessels  steering 
north.  Three  days  out  it  came  on  to  blow  very  heavily,  when 
the  ship  lost  her  jib*boom,  and  two  men  that  were  on  it  at  the 
.  moment.  The  next  day  the  weather  moderated,  and  about  11 
o'clock  in  the  nisht  of  the  17th,  being  then  in  latitude  87°  N., 
and  longitude  65^  W.,  several  sail  were  made.  Two  of  these 
vessels  appeared  to  be  large,  and  Captain  Jones  did  not  deem 
it  prudent  to  close,  until  he  had  a  better  opportunity  of  observ* 
ing  them,  but  hauling  off  to  a  convenient  distance,  he  steered 
in  the  same  direction  with  the  unknown  vessels,  with  the  in- 
tention of  asoeilaining  their  charaoters  in  the-moming.  When 
the  day  dawned,  the  strangers  were  seen  ahead,  and  to  lee* 
ward.  Making  sail  to  close,  they  were  soon  ascertained  to  be 
a  sinidl  oopvoy  of  six  English  ships,  under  the  charge  of  a 
heavy  brig  of  war.  Four  of  the  merchantmen  were  armed, 
apparently,  mounting,  aa  well  as  could  be  ascertained  at  that 
88 


266 


NAVAL    HI8T0RT. 


[1819. 


diatanc  :irom  12  to  18  gfxat.  Th«  commander  of  the  brig, 
however,  manifested  no  wish  to  avail  himself  of  the  assistance 
of  any  of  his  convoy,  but  shortening  sail,  the  latter  passed 
ahead,  while  he  prepared  to  give  battle. 

The  Wasp  now  sent  down  top-gallant-yards,  close  reefed  her 
topsails,  ana  was  otherwise  brought  under  short  fighting  can- 
vass, there  being  a  good  deal  of  sea  on.  The  stranger  was 
under  little  sail  also,  and  his  main  yard  was  on  deck,  where  it 
had  been  lowered  to  undergo  repairs.  As  it  was  the  evident 
intention  of  the  Englishman  to  cover  his  convoy,  very  little 
manoeuvring  was  necessary  to  bring  the  vessels  alongside  of 
each  other.  At  82  minutes  past  11  A.  M.,  the  Wasp  ranged 
close  up  on  the  starboard  side  of  the  enemy,  receiving  her 
broadside,  at  the  distance  of  about  sixty  yards,  and  delivering 
her  own.  The  fire  of  the  Englbhman  immediately  became 
very  rapid,  it  having  been  thought  at  the  time,  that  he  dis- 
charged three  guns  to  the  Wasp's  two ;  and  as  the  main-topmast 
of  the  latter  ship  was  shot  away  within  five  minutes  after  the 
action  commenced,  appearances  at  first,  were  greatly  in  the 
enemy's  favour.  In  eight  minutes,  the  gaff  and  mizzen  top- 
gallant-mast also  fell.  But,  if  the  fire  of  the  Wasp  was  the 
most  deliberate,  it  was  much  the  most  deadly. 

In  consequence  of  the  fall  of  the  main-topmast  of  the  Ame- 
rican ship,  which,  with  the  main-topsail-yard,  lodged  on  the 
fore  and  fore-topsail  braces,  it  became  next  to  imjioMible  to 
haul  any  of  the  yards,  had  circumstances  required  it,  but  the 
battle  was  continued  with  great  spirit  on  both  sides,  until  the 
ships  had  gradually  closed  so  near,  that  the  bends  of  the  Wasp 
rubbed  against  her  antagonist's  bows.  Here  the  ships  came 
foul,  the  bowsprit  of  the  enemy  passing  in  over  the  quarter- 
deck of  the  Wasp,  forcing  her  bows  up  into  the  wind,  and  en: 
abling  the  latter  to  throw  in  a  close  raking  fire. 

When  Captain  Jones  perceived  the  eflSwt  of  the  enemy's  fire 
on  his  spars  and  rigging,  he  closed  with  a  view  to  board ;  but 
finding  his  ship  in  so  favourable  a  position,  he  countermanded 
an  order  to  that  effect,  and  directed  a  fresh  broadside  to  be  de- 
livered.  The  vessels  were  now  so  near  that  in  loading  some 
of  the  Wasp's  guns,  the  rammers  hit  against  the  bows  of  her 
antagonist,  and  the  people  of  the  Englishman  crtuld  no  longer 
be  kept  at  their  quarters  forward.  The  disrha^-ge  of  one  or 
two  of  the  carronades  swept  the  enemy's  decks,  when  the  im- 
petuosity of  the  Wasp's  crew  could  no  longer  be  restrained, 
and  they  began  to  leap  into  the  rigging,  and  ficom  thence  on 


y^ 


MlMMMMi 


[1813. 

lander  or  the  brig, 
Ifof  theauistance 
,  the  latter  paaaed 

li,  close  re  Ted  her 
ihort  fighting  caa* 

The  stranger  waa 
I  on  deck,  where  it 
it  was  the  evident 
convoy,  very  little 
ssseis  alongside  of 
,  the  Wasp  ranged 
my,  receiving  her 
nk,  and  delivering 
nmediatoly  became 

time,  that  he  dis- 
u  the  main-topmast 
e  minutes  after  the 
rare  greatly  in  the 
if  and  mizzen  top- 

the  Wasp  was  the 
lly. 

>pma8t  of  the  Ame* 
ard,  lodged  on  the 
xt  to  impossible  to 
required  it,  but  the 
oth  sides,  until  the 
)  bends  of  the  Wasp 
»re  the  ships  came 
I  over  the  quarter- 

0  the  wind,  and  en- 
fire. 

;  of  the  enemy's  fire 
view  to  board ;  but 

1  he  countermanded 
broadside  to  be  de* 

at  in  loading  some 
ist  the  bows  of  her 
lan  Of  <uld  no  longer 
isr.hai'ge  of  one  or 
leeks,  when  the  im- 
iger  be  restrained, 
ad  from  thence  on 


1819.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


267 


the  bowsprit  of  the  brig.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Biddio,  the  first  lieu- 
tenant or  the  Wasp,  found  that  the  people  were  not  to  be  re- 
strained,  ho  sprang  into  the  rigging,  followed  by  Lieutenant  O. 
Rodgers  and  a  party  of  officers  and  men,  and  the  attempt  to 
board  was  seriously  made.  On  the  forecastle  of  the  brig  Mr. 
Biddle  passed  all  his  own  people,  but  there  was  no  enemy  to 
oppose  him.  Two  or  three  officers  were  standing  aft,  most  of 
them  bleeding.  The  decks  were  strewed  with  killed  and  wound- 
cd,  but  not  a  common  hand  was  at  his  station ;  all  those  that 
were  able  bavins  gone  below,  with  the  exception  of  the  nian 
at  the  wheel.  The  latter  had  maintained  his  post,  with  the 
spirit  of  a  seaman,  to  the  last. 

The  English  officers  threw  down  their  swords  in  token  of 
submission,  as  Mr.  Biddle  passed  aft ;  and  it  ought  to  be  added, 
to  the  credit  of  the  conquerors,  notwithstanding  the  excitement 
of  such  scenes  ore  too  apt  to  lead  even  the  disciplined  into  ex- 
cesses, not  an  enemy  was  injured  by  the  boarders.  Mr.  Bid- 
dle sprang  into  the  main  rigging,  and  lowered  the  English  flag 
with  his  own  hands,  when  the  combat  ceased,  after  a  duration 
of  48  minutes. 

The  prize  turned  out  to  be  the  British  sloop  of  war  Frolic 
18,  Captain  Whinyatcs,  homeward  bound,  with  the  vessels  in 
the  Honduras  trade  under  convoy.  The  Frolic,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  being  a  brig,  was  a  vessel  of  the  size  and  construc- 
tion of  the  Wasp.  She  mounted,  on  her  main  deck,  16  thirty- 
two  pound  carrouades,  four  long  guns,  differently  stated  to 
have  been  sixes,  nines,  and  twelves,  end  had  two  twelve-pound 
carronades  on  a  topgallant  forecastle.  This  armament  would 
make  a  force  greater  than  that  of  the  Wasp  by  four  guns,  a 
disparity  that  is  not  immaterial  in  vessels  so  small.  The  two 
cr«w8  were  pretty  eeual  in  numbers,  though  :t  is  probable  that 
the  Wasp  may  have  had  a  few  men  the  most ;  a  difibrence  that 
was  of  little  moment  under  the  circumsUinces,  more  particu- 
larly as  the  Frolic  was  a  brig,  and  the  battle  was  fought,  by 
both  vessels,  under  very  short  sail.* 

The  Wasp  was  cut  up  aloft  to^an  usuisual  degree,  there  hav- 
ing been  no  question  that  her  antagonist's  fire  was  heavy  and 
spirited.  The  braces  and  standing-rigging  were  neariy  all 
shot  away,  and  aoam  of  the  span  that  stood  were  iniured. 
She  had  five  iner  '  ilJ^,  and  five  wounded.  The  hull  sus- 
tained no  great  do^^ta  >. 

*  The  Wmp's  matiar-roH,  on  th*  oiomiiif  of  the  18th  October,  win- 
toimd  the  names  of  IM  pereons,  all  told. 


Hili 


I 


366 


NAVAL     HIBTORY. 


[leiiL 


Tho  Frolic  wus  also  much  injured  in  her  ipari  and  rigging, 
more  particularly  in  tho  former;  and  tho  two  voaaels  woro 
hordly  aoparatcd,  Ixjfuro  both  her  mnstii  foil.  Sho  had  boon 
hulled  at  almoHt  every  discharge,  and  wrj  virtually  a  wreck 
wlion  tak'>n  posHussiuii  of  by  tho  Americans.  Her  loss  in 
men  wad  never  accurately  known,  but  her  captain,  first  lieu* 
tenant,  and  master,  were  wounded ;  the  two  latter  mortally. 
Mr.  Diddle,  who  remained  in  charge  ot*  the  prize,  after  so  gaU 
lantly  boarding  her,  stated,  that  as  far  as  he  could  ascertain, 
sho  had  from  70  to  80  killed  and  wounded.  Subsequent  in< 
formation,  however,  bus  given  reason  to  believe  that  tho  num> 
ber  was  even  greater.  Captain  Whinyatcs,  in  his  official  re< 
|)ort,  states  that  not  20  of  his  crow  escaped  unhurt,  which 
would  probably  raise  tho  casualties  to  a  number  between  90 
and  100. 

The  Frolic  had  scarcely  submitted,  when  a  largo  sail  was 
seen  standing  towards  tho  two  vessels,  evidently  a  ship  of  force. 
Instructions  were  given  to  Mr.  Biddle  to  make  the  best  of  his 
wav  to  Charleston  with  the  prize,  and  tho  Wasp  began  to  make 
sail,  with  an  intention  to  continue  her  cruise ;  but  on  opening 
her  canvass,  and  turning  the  reefs  out  of  her  topsails,  they 
were  found  to  be  nearly  in  ribands.  The  stranger,  which 
turned  out  to  be  the  enemy's  ship  Poictiers  74,  hove  a  shot 
over  the  Frolic,  in  passing,  and  ranging  up  near  the  Wasp, 
both  vessels  were  captured.  The  Poictiers  proceeded  with  her 
two  prizes  to  Bermuda,  and  the  Americans,  being  paroled,  soon 
aAer  returned  home. 

As  this  was  the  first  combat  of  the  war  between  vessels  of 
a  force  so  nearly  equal  as  to  render  cavilling  (difficult,  the  re* 
suit  occasioned  much  exultation  in  America,  and  greatly  in- 
creased the  confidence  of  the  public,  in  supposing  an  Ameri* 
can  ship  had  quite  as  many  claims  to  conduct,  courage,  and 
skill,  as  a  British.  Persons  of  reflection  attached  but  lit* 
tie  importance,  it  is  true,  to  the  mere  fact  that  a  few  cruisers 
had  been  taken  in  single  combat,  but  the  idea  of  British  invin* 
cibility  was  destroyed,  and  va»t  moral  results  were  distinctly 
foreseen. 

In  the  published  account  of  the  captain  of  the  Frolic,  m'ich 
stress  was  laid  on  the  crippled  condition  of  his  ship,  when  she 
went  into  action.  It  is  admitted  that  his  vessel  had  her  main* 
yard  on  deck  when  she  engaged,  und,  as  little  canvass  was 
required,  her  after*sail  was  reduced  to  iter  ibre*and*aft  main- 
sail,   liiere  are  circumstances  in  which  the  loss  of  a  brig's 


iii 


r.  [181ft 

'  ipara  and  rigging, 
I  two  vooaela  wore 
ill.  Sho  had  boun 
I  virtually  a  wreck 
ann.    Her  loss  iu 

captain,  first  lieu> 
vo  latter  mortally, 

prize,  ailer  so  gaU 
he  could  ascertain, 
J.  Subsequent  in- 
lievo  that  the  num> 
I,  in  his  official  re* 
ped  unhurt,  which 
umber  between  00 

[)  a  largo  sail  was 
ntly  a  ship  of  force, 
ike  the  best  of  his 
Vfup  began  to  make 
e;  but  on  opening 
r  her  topsails,  they 
ie  stranger,  which 
rs  74,  hove  a  shot 
up  near  the  Wasp, 
proceeded  with  her 
being  paroled,  soon 

between  vessels  of 
ng  (difficult,  the  re* 
ca,  and  greatly  in- 
ipposing  an  Ameri- 
iduct,  courage,  and 
a  attached  but  lit- 
hat  a  few  cruisers 
ea  of  British  invin- 
iilfs  were  distinctly 

>f  the  Frolic,  mwh 
his  ship,  when  she 
issel  had  her  main* 
little  canvass  was 
ibre-and-aft  main- 
be  loss  of  a  brig's 


tn% 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


269 


moin-topsail  would  be  of  the  last  importance ;  and  there  orr 
circumstances,  again,  in  which  it  would  be  of  but  lilllo  mo- 
ment. On  this  occasion  it  does  not  appear  to  have  materially 
influenced  the  result;  and  the  very  fact  that  the  yard  was 
down,  may  hove  prevented  the  mast  from  falling  during  the 
engagement,  instead  of  falling  after  it.  On  details  of  this  na- 
ture, it  is  difficult  to  reason  accurately,  so  much  depending  on 
minute  circumstances,  that  must  escape  the  general  observer. 
Captain  Jones  was  promoted  shortly  after  this  success,  and 
he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Macedonian  38, 
which  ship  had  been  purchased  ond  taken  into  the  service. 
The  name  of  Mr.  Biddle,  who  was  an  old  lieutenant,  and 
whose  spirited  conduct  in  the  action  was  much  appreciated, 
was  also  included  in  the  list  of  masters  and  commanders  that 
was  sent  into  the  senate  about  the  same  time. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Whin  Commodore  Bainbridge  took  comnmnd  of  the  three 
vessels  that  have  been  already  mentioned,  the  Constitution  44, 
his  own  ship,  and  Hornet  18,  Captain  Lawrence,  were  lying 
in  the  port  of  Boston ;  and  the  Essex  82,  Captain  Porter,  had 
just  gone  into  the  Delaware.  Orders  were  sent  to  the  latter 
officer,  to  rendezvous  first  at  Port  Praya,  in  the  island  of  St. 
Jago ;  and  secondly  at  Fernando  Noronha.  Other  places  of 
resort  were  pointed  out;  and  he  was  also  instructed  to  cruise 
in  the  track  of  the  enemy's  Indiamen,  until  a  time  mentioned, 
when,  if  he  failed  to  fall  in  with  his  senior  officer,  he  was  at 
liberty  to  follow  his  own  discretion.  As  the  Essex  never  join- 
ed the  other  ships,  we  shall  defer  the  account  of  her  cruise,  to 
another  chapter.  .    „«  . 

The  Constitution  and  Hornet  sailed  from  Boston  on  the  aeth 
of  October.  Touching  at  the  difibrant  rendetvous,  where  they 
appeared  in  the  character  of  British  vessels  of  war,  letters 
were  left  for  Captain  Porter,  under  the  assumed  name  of  Sir 
James  Yeo,  of  the  Southampton  82,  according  to  arranj,  • 
ment,  and  the  ships  proceeded. 

Commodore  Bainbridge  arrived  off  St.  Salvador  on  the  18th 
28* 


■ifWIWi 


870 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


[1819. 


of  Dacomber,  and  iho  Homot  *n»  irnl  in  to  communicalo  with 
Ibo  consul.  (JnpJoin  Lawrence  (bund  iho  Urilish  iloop  of  war 
Boons  Ciloycnno  18,  (.'uptain  (Jrwii,  in  |)ort,  but  about  to 
Mil  tor  England,  with  a  vory  largo  amount  of  *|)ocio  on  board. 
Tho  pnwonco  of  thia  vessel  suggested  a  hopti  ol  being  able  to 
got  hor  out.  After  conversing  with  tho  consul,  that  gentleman 
was  ompowerod  to  inform  tho  commander  of  the  English  ship, 
that  Captain  Lawronco  was  desirous  of  meeting  him  at  sea, 
and  to  give  tho  necessary  pledges  that  the  Constitution  would 
ho  out  of  tho  way.  A  correspondence  took  place  between  tho 
English  and  American  consuls  on  tho  subject,  and  in  tho  end. 
Captain  Green  declined  acooding  to  the  proposal. 

The  Constitution  left  the  Hornet  to  blockade  the  Bonno 
Ciloycnno  alone,  on  tho  Seth,  and  stood  to  the  aouthward, 
keeping  the  land  aboard.  About  9  A.  M.  of  the  29th,  when  in 
lat.  18'  «•  8.,  and  long.  81"  W.,  or  at  a  distance  of  ten  leagues 
ftom  tho  coaat,  two  strange  sail  were  made  in-shoro  and  to 
windward.  One  of  thoae  vessels  continued  to  stand  in,  while 
tho  other,  which  was  much  the  largest,  altered  her  course  in 
the  direction  of  tho  American  frigate,  which  had  tacked  to 
oloae  with  hor.  The  day  was  pleasant,  there  was  but  littie 
IM,  and  the  wind  was  light  at  E.  N.  E. 

At  11  A.  M.,  being  satisfied  that  the  strange  sail  was  an 
eiiomy'a  fVigato,  the  Constitution  tacked  again  to  tho  southward 
•nd  eastward,  to  draw  her  enemy  oif  the  land,  which  was 
plainly  in  sight.  At  the  aame  time,  she  sot  her  royals,  and 
boarded  main4aok,  in  order  to  eflbct  this  object. 

At  19  M.  the  Constitution  showed  her  colours,  and  shortly 
after  the  stranger  aet  the  English  ensign.  Signals  wore  made 
by  both  ships,  but  proved  to  be  mutually  unintelligible.  At 
80  minutea  past  1,  P.  M.,  believing  himself  far  enough  from 
tho  land,  Commodore  Bainbridge  took  in  his  main-sail  and 
royals,  and  tacked  towards  the  enemy.  Soon  after,  both  ships 
had  their  heads  to  the  southward  and  eastward,  the  Englishman 
being  to  windward  more  than  a  mile  distant,  and  well  on  the 
Constitution's  quarter. 

The  enemy  had  now  hauled  down  his  ensign,  though  he 
kept  a  jack  flying,  and  Commodore  Bainbrid^  ordered  a  shot 
fired  ahead  of  him,  to  induce  him  to  show  hu  colours  anew. 
Tliit  order  brought  on  a  oeneral  fire,  and  the  battle  commenced 
at  8,  P.  M.,  on  both  nSot,  with  a  furious  cannonade.  The 
enemy  aailed  the  best,  and  in  the  light  wind  that  prevailed  he 
■ooa  Rxfjti  •head,  keeping  away  with  a  view  to  cron  the 


I' 


vJl 


^  [loia. 

>  communkato  with 
[}ritish  iloop  of  war 
|>ort,  but  about  to 
of  vnocie  on  board, 
pi)  ol  bviiig  nblo  to 
)8ul,  that  gi.'ntlt'nmn 
or  the  Engliah  ship, 
Kwting  him  at  aca, 

Cunatitution  would 
k  place  between  the 
oct,  and  in  the  end, 
}|x>8al. 
>lockade  the  Bonne 

to  the  aouthward, 
^r  the  29th,  whoa  in 
ituncoof  ten  leagues 
ade  in-shoro  and  to 
id  to  stand  in,  while 
tored  her  course  in 
hich  had  tacked  to 
there  was  but  littie 

itrongo  s&il  was  an 
ain  to  the  southward 
10  land,  which  was 
set  her  royals,  and 
abject. 

colours,  and  shortly 
Signals  wore  made 
^  unintelligible.  At 
elf  far  enough  from 
n  his  main>8ail  and 
)oon  after,  both  ships 
ard,  the  Englishman 
lant,  and  well  on  the 

s  ensign,  though  he 
>ridge  ordered  a  shot 
V  hu  colours  anew, 
he  battle  commenced 
M  cannonade.  The 
ind  that  prevailed  he 
a  view  to  cross  the 


1819] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


271 


Constitution's  bow,  but  was  foiii-d  by  tho  Inttnr  abip's  waring, 
which  brought  the  heads  of  Iho  two  combatants  onco  mom  to 
the  westward.  In  pnrfonning  these  cvolutiuns,  as  the  enumy 
•teored  free,  and  the  Constitution  lufTcd,  the  vessels  got  within 
pistol-sh«)t,  when  the  foiiwr  rt'pcatcd  the  snnfw  attempt,  the 
ships  waring  togetlior,  bringing  thnir  heads  onco  more  to  the 
eastward.  Tlio  English  ship  forc-rcoching  again,  now  en- 
deavoured to  tack  to  prcservo  the  weuthtir-gagc ;  but  failing, 
■he  was  obliged  to  ware,  a  manoiuvro  that  the  Constitution  had 
already  executed  to  avoid  being  raked,  for  the  wheel  of  the 
lottor  ship  had  been  shot  away,  and  it  wm  difficult  to  watch 
the  vessel  with  the  h<.'lni,  as  closely  as  was  desirable.  The. 
Constiiution,  notwithstanding,  was  the  first  in  coming  to  the 
wind  on  the  other  tack,  and  she  got  an  efficient  raking  Are  at 
her  opponent 

Both  vessels  now  ran  off  free,  with  the  wind  on  the  quarter, 
the  English  ship  still  to  windward,  when  the  latter  being 

ntly  mjurcd,  made  an  attempt  to  close,  at  05  minutes  past 
/  running  down  on  the  Constitution's  quarter.  Her  jib- 
boom  ran  into  the  Constitution's  mizzen  rigging,  in  which 
situation  she  suffered  severely,  without  being  able  to  effect  her 
purpose.  The  head  of  her  bowsprit  was  soon  shot  awoy,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  after,  her  foremast  came  by  tho  board.  The 
Constitution  shot  ahead,  keeping  away  to  avoid  being  raked  j 
in  separating,  the  stump  of  the  enemy's  bowsprit  passed  over 
the  American  frigate's  taffrail. 

The  two  ships  now  brought  tho  wind  abeam  again,  with 
their  heads  to  the  eastward,  and  the  Constitution  having  fore- 
reached,  in  consequence  of  carrying  the  most  sail,  wore, 
passed  her  antagonist,  luffed  up  under  his  quarter,  wore  again, 
and  the  Englishman  having  kept  away,  the  vcmcIs  came 
alongside  of  each  other,  anden^god  for  a  short  time,  yard- 
arm  and  yard-arm.  In  a  few  mmutes  tlw  enemy  Jost  his  rqiz- 
len-mast,  leaving  nothing  standing  but  his  main-mast,  with  the 
yard  shot  away  near  the  slings.  As  his  fire  had  ceased,  the 
Constitution  hauled  aboard  her  tacks,  and  luffed  athwart  her 
antagonist's  bow ;  passing  out  of  the  combat  to  windward,  at 
five  minutes  past  4,  with  her  topsails,  courses,  spanker,  and  jib 
set.  In  executing  this  manoBuvre,  Commodore  Bainbridge  was 
under  the  impression  that  the  enemy  had  struck,  the  ensi^ 
which  had  been  hoisted  in  his  main-rigging  being  down,  his 
ahip  a  wreck,  and  his  fire  silenced. 
Having  got  a  ikvourable  weatherly  position,  the  Coastitution 


lis 


•WMMMMlka 


vn 


NAVAL    MliTOET, 


(till. 


rwMiHl  •oiM  llfTW  in  repairing  damagwi,  and  in  •arunng  h*r 
moita  i  it  hiMiig  nll.important  to  »in  American  rngnto  ao  far 
(Voin  home,  without  coU.ni«'»  or  military  •tation*  to  repair  to, 
•nd  on  ocfon  to  trRvonw  that  wan  coviirwl  with  cninnwa,  to 
look  vigilantly  to  th«»e  great  auxiliariua.  In  about  an  hour, 
obi^rving  nn  on^ign  itill  flying  <m  board  hia  onemy,  Commo- 
dore llainbritlgn  wore  round,  and  atanding  directly  acroaa  b«r 
foro.foot,  th«!  Kngiiih  vimirl  anticipated  hia  fire  by  atnking. 

The  Conalitution  iniin«-<lint.ly  wom,  with  hor  hoad  on  the 
•amo  Uck  na  the  captured  VDaael,  hoi»l.Ml  <Mit  a  ►*>««.»'>'«  ""n* 
Mr.  Parker,  her  flrat  lieutenant,  to  lake  poa«?aaion.  I  he  priie 
proved  to  l>c  the  Britiah  frigate  Java  88,  Captain  Lambert, 
bound  to  the  Enat  Iniliea,  having  on  board  as  paaaengera  Lieu- 
tenant  Ocncral  Minlop  and  aloff;  tog»nhcr  with  aevoral  auper- 
numerary  aca-olfiajra,  and  a  conaidcrablo  number  of  men 
intendcKl  for  other  shipa. 

Thia  combat  laated  near  two  houra,  flrom  the  commencement 
to  the  i-nd  of  the  firing,  and  it  had  hixn  warmly  contested  on 
both  sides,  but  with  very  different  results.  Although  there 
was  more  manoeuvring  than  common,  the  Java  had  been  hte. 
rally  picked  to  pieces  by  shot,  apar  following  apar,  until  ahe 
had  not  one  left.  Her  foremast  was  first  cut  away  near  tho 
cat-harpings,  and  afterwaHs,  by  a  double-headed  shot,  ab  ut 
five-anil-twenty  feet  from  tho  deck.  The  main-topmast  went 
early,  and  the  main-mast  fell  after  tho  Constitution  hauled  off. 
The  mizzen-mast  waa  shot  out  of  tlie  ship,  a  few  feet  from  the 
deck,  and  the  bowsprit  near  the  cap.  Her  hull  was  alao 
greatly  injured ;  and  her  loaa  in  men,  according  to  the  British 
published  accounts,  was  98  killed  and  108  wounded  ;  though 
there  ia  good  reason  for  supposing  it  waa  cx)naiderably  greater. 
Commodore  Bainbridge  stated  it  at  60  killed  and  101  wounded. 
There  may  haVe  been  some  discrepancy  in  these  statements, 
ir.  /lonscquenco  of  the  great  number  of  supemumeranea  on 
board  the  Java,  which  ship  is  said  to  have  had  more  than  400 
men  in  her  when  taken,  or  quite  100  more  than  her  regular 
complement.*    Captain  Lambert,  of  the  Java,  was  mortally 

lnjr.up.n.uim.r.rl...    Comn»od«BatobrWp  reporto thattoftuk^ 
m  oicera,  aeamen.  marinaa.  and  baya.  aicTuaively  of  8,P«W"  "^ 
9  PonogoSa  aeuaen,  makinf  S18  aoab.    If  ^  «haas  ba  ad<M  tha  M 
allowed  to  b.  kUM  bv  tha  ««»»..  total  ofj«t  400  «•  "^•^-    "JjJ 
it  Mid  that  a  murter-liat,  made  «va  daya  after  tba  Java  aailad,  eaataloaa 

j«at44«i 


MOTMrMMaaM 


IMMI 


r. 

nd  in  MruniiB  h<ir 
rican  Trigiito  to  fkr 
latiiina  (o  mp«ir  to, 
ihI  with  cnc!ink<a,  to 
In  about  nn  hour, 
lia  enemy,  Commo- 
;  directly  acroM  her 
I  Are  by  itriking. 
h  hor  hffad  on  the 
[>ut  a  Uwt,  anil  Mnt 
MCfifiion.  Th«  priie 
I,  Captain  Lambert, 
M  paMengen  Lieu- 
with  Mvoral  super* 
ilo  number  of  men 

the  commrnccmcnl 
rarmly  contested  on 
ta.     Although  there 

Java  had  been  lite* 
ying  iipar,  until  aho 

cut  away  near  the 
vheaded  ahot,  ab  >ut 
I  nMin-topmaat  went 
natitution  hauled  oflT. 
,  n  fow  foet  from  the 

Her  hull  waa  alto 
ording  to  the  Britiah 
)3  wounded ;  though 
lonaiderably  greater, 
ud  and  101  wounded, 
in  these  statements, 
supemumerariea  on 
s  had  more  than  400 
an  than  her  regular 

Java,  was  mortally 

rsva  at  377  men,  inelnd. 
iporto  that  be  ftvloaf  bad 
•It  of  8  puMiifsrs  tmi 
o  thwsbe  addwithstt 
400  >•  obttiiMd.  Bat  It 
m  Java  MiM,  oontaiasd 


NATAL    NI^TORft 


073 


,  and  one  of  h<'r  !!«'uti>n«ni«,  ih"  master,  and  many 

of  her  inferior  offlcirs,  wcro  ilnin,  or  •erioimly  hurt. 

The  (Constitution  did  not  low  a  spar.  She  wmt  into  action 
with  her  royal-yanla  at^roaa,  and  camo  out  of  it  with  all  three 
of  ih«w  in  thrir  plnrrs.  An  rightrrn-pound  shot  passed 
thmuuh  the  niiawn-niaiit ;  th«  forrvmast  wa«  slightly  wounded, 
and  the  main-mnel  was  untouchfld.  The  mam-topmast  was 
also  slightly  woundwl ;  a  few  olhrr  ipars  wre  hit,  without 
being  carried  away  {  the  rmning  riggmg  was  injurwl  a  good 
deal  ;  several  shrouds  wem  cut,  anJ  the  ship  rcroived  a  ftiw 
n«md.shot  in  her  hull.  Of  her  crew,  0  were  killed,  and  26 
were  wounded,  Aimmg  th<i  Intlor  were  Commodom  Bain- 
bridge,  and  the  junior  Iwnitcnaiit,  Mr.  Alwyn.  Thn  Inst  died 
of  hw  injuries,  some  time  after  the  action.  ComnvKV.m  Ilnin 
bridge  was  slightly  hurt  in  the  hip,  early  in  the  engagement, 
by  a  musket-ball ;  and  the  shot  that  carried  away  tne  wheel, 
drove  a  small  copper  bolt  into  his  thigh,  inflicting  a  dangeroua 
wound,  though  he  kept  the  ikwk  until  midnight. 

Although  the  injunca  to  the  hull  of  the  Java  worn  not  of  a 
nature  to  render  her  being  carried  into  port  diflicult,  the 
smoothness  of  the  se«  having  prevented  her  from  receiving 
many  shot  below  the  water-line,  there  existed  many  obiectiona 
to  attempting  it.  In  the  first  place,  it  was  known  that  the 
Braxilian  government  was  favourable  to  that  of  Oreat  Britain, 
and  there  had  been  strong  proof  of  it  during  the  recent  visit 
of  Commodore  Bainbridge  to  St.  Salvador.  That  officer, 
therefore  felt  a  hesitation  about  trusting  his  pri«e  in  a  Bra- 
tilian  port  The  difficulty  of  obuining  masts  of  the  neoes- 
•ary  siie,  the  distance  from  homo,  and  the  risks  of  recapture, 
on  Hearing  the  coast,  united  to  render  it  expedient  to  destroy 
her.  After  lying  by  her  two  or  throe  days,  therefore,  with  a 
view  to  remove  the  wounded  with  proper  carB,  the  Java  waa 
blown  up,  and  the  Constitution  made  the  beat  of  her  way  to 
St.  Salvador,  where  ahe  immediately  landed  her  prisoners  oo 
parole. 

The  same  general  peculiarities  attended  this  combat,  as  had 
distinguished  the  two  other  cases  of  frigate  actions.  In  all 
three,  the  Ameriean  reeacis  were  superior  to  (heir  antagonists ; 
but  in  all  three,  had  the  difference  in  execution  been  greatly 
out  of  proportion  to  the  disparity  In  force.  The  Java,  like 
the  Guerrtere,  had  been  well  handled,  but  her  fire  had  been 
badly  aimed.  It  would  seem  that  the  Conftitution  actually 
wore  six  timoa,  after  the  action  had  fairiy  commenced ;  and 


r4 


NAVAL    HlfTOIIf< 


(IIU 


^m. 


•llowing  fl>T  Jhc  ]K»i!i«n9  of  «h*«  "hip",  Ihw  lig hini»«  of  ihe 
«rlnd,  anil  Iho  ■|«tH(  thul  it  wb«  nri-riwnry  to  run,  ni  (inlrr  lo 
■void  Iwliig  r«k«il  whiln  oxri'iiiing  lh<'«<i  ('voliiiiiina,  a  m  pro- 
babio  thai  iho  rannucuidn  did  iu)l  m-tually  «M'iu|iy  on  hour. 
Thfl  action  muil  hav<«  irrniinatiHi  ■onw  mil«<«  to  Umward  of  the 
•|X)t  wh«'W  it  ronmwnrrd. 

On  nwi-hinK  Mt.  Hnlvndor,  ('omnuxlorp  llninbridKn  found  the 
lIoriMt  t.lV  lh«  |K)rt,  and  it  waa  un<tnr«tiNMl  that  lh<t  llonno 
Citoyenne  had  hove-thoH,  with  an  intention  of  going  to  aca 
that  night.  Thn  arrival  of  thn  Conatitution  ap|wara  to  hnvo 
prtxIuofHl  a  rhangn  in  thia  plan,  if  it  rvrr  Kxiated.  Ronmining 
«  ti)W  dnya  in  jwrt  lo  land  hia  priaonora,  and  to  complfi-  hie 
■rrangrimmta,  (lommwlom  Hninhridgo  MiM  for  America, 
January  9,  1H18,  and  arrived  at  Itoaion  on  thfl  'J7th  of  Feb- 
ruary, after  an  ahacnnfl  of  four  nMintha. 

The  Hornet  waa  lel^  with  ordera  aubatantlatly  diacmtionary. 
Bhe  rfimaimnl  ofT Ht.  Hnlvador,  hlor leading  IIk<  Ikinne ('iloyonne, 
alone,  for  eluhi.^  n  duya,  whon  aho  wa«  chnaed  into  the  har- 
bour by  the  Montagu  74,  which  veaael  ha<l  <on»e  t<>  relinvo  the 
•nemyS  aloop  of  war  from  (ho  awkward  ncccaaity  of  flghting 
with  ao  much  Inwauro  on  board,  or  of  Ihe  alill  mor«  unplcaa- 
ant  dllamma  of  appoarins  indiipoaod  to  meet  a  ahip  of  equal 
force.  It  waa  late  in  the  evening  when  the  Montagu  ap- 
proached, and  the  Hornet  availed  heraelf  <»f  the  darkniwa  to 
ware  and  aland  out  again,  paaaing  into  iIk)  ofiing  without  Air- 
Iher  moleatatlon. 

Captain  LawrenM  now  hauled  by  Ihe  wind,  to  the  north- 
ward and  eaatwanl,  with  Ihe  intention  of  going  off  Pornam- 
buco.  He  made  a  few  prizea,  and  continued  cruiaing  up  tho 
ooaat,  until  thn  'J4th  of  February,  ^\wn  the  ahip  wna  near  the 
mouth  of  Demarara  river.  Here  ho  ♦  t  chaae  to  a  brig, 
which  drew  him  into  quarter-leaa-fivc,  ui»!'>i.,  ;.a'.'';  g  no  pilot, 
he  deemed  It  prudent  lo  haul  off  ahor  A*  Oi  nomont  h.- 
■uppoaod  hlmaelf  to  be  about  two  am  •'  "  L*^.  .a  from  tho 
fort  at  the  entrance  of  Ihe  river.  Juat  without  the  bar,  an- 
other brig  waa  aoen.  Aa  ahe  had  on  Bnglbh  enaign  act,  and 
bore  every  appearance  of  being  a  man-of-war,  it  waa  deter- 
minad  to  attack  her.  While  the  Hornet  waa  beating  round  the 
Carobana  bank,  which  lay  between  her  and  the  enemy,  with  a 
view  lo  get  at  him,  another  aail  waa  made  on  her  weather  quar- 
ter, .edginff  down  towarda  her.  It  waa  now  half  paat  8  P.  M., 
and  the  Hornet  continuing  to  turn  to  windward,  with  her  ori- 
flotl  iotentioDi  by  twenty  minutea  paat  4  th^  aecond  atranger 


UIL 


mmmm 


inia.] 


NAVAL    NIITOAT. 


hn  lightiWMa  of  thn 
t  In  run,  iii  urdrr  lu 
nvolulKtiia,  It  la  pru- 
lly  ticrupy  au  hour. 
Iff*  to  leowarU  of  iha 

lAJntiriilgii  fouiiil  ihfl 
inhI  llmt  tho  lloiino 
on  uf  going  tu 
on  iip|Mnni  to  have 
ixiatinJ.  Rciimining 
nnt\  to  compl*'!'  hi« 
milinl  lor  Anwrira, 
n  ih«  a7th  of  Frb- 

itially  diacrotionary. 
If  (tonno  Ctioyonne, 
hnarii  into  the  luir> 
I  coitHi  li'  rcliiivo  thn 
nccoaaity  of  flghting 
)  atill  mora  unploaa- 
noot  a  ahip  of  equal 
m  thn  Montagu  ap< 
'  of  tho  (larkoMw  to 
0  ofliflg  without  Air« 

wind,  to  th«  north* 
r  going  off  Pornam- 
nucd  cniiaing  up  tho 
ho  ahip  wna  n<:ar  thn 
rm  chaae  to  a  brig, 
m,  ;.a'.'!i  g  oo  pilot, 

A'  Uiio  -nomont  he 
lw»{;.  .a  fronrt  tho 
without  tho  bar,  an- 
;lbh  enaign  act,  and 
f-war,  it  woa  deter- 
raa  beating  round  the 
id  the  onemv,  with  n 
on  hor  weatrier  quar* 
w  half  paat  3  P.  M., 
dward,  with  her  ori* 
th4  aecood  atraitgar 


»75 

waa  made  out  to  bo  a  large  man^tfwor  brig.     Shortly  alUr 
lia  ahowod  Kngliah  colmira. 

Aa  aoon  oa  hrr  captain  waa  aatialW  that  the  veaaal  ap- 
pmarhiug  *iu»  an  pnemy,  th«i  Horift  wna  <  l.-and  for  arlion, 
and  b«r  people  went  to  quarter*.  Tin'  "hip  woa  kept  iJuam  bv 
\ka  wind,  in  order  to  gam  the  wcatlwrgBg^,  tho  «neiny  alill 
riinniiiK  (rrt^.  At  ft  uT,  ffi-lmg  mrtain  ihnt  he  «ould  we«lh«'r 
the  Kngiiahman,  (;upta!n  Uwrwnce  ahowed  hia  coloura  and 
tackinl.  'Ilw  two  vrmm\»  were  now  atniiding  towank  mi:h 
other,  with  their  h<«da  dilfttrenl  waya,  Imth  rUm^  by  the  wind. 
They  paaw}d  within  half  piatol-ahot  at  ft  aft,  delivering  Umr 
bniadaldra  aa  tho  guna  bore  i  each  veea«'l  uaiiig  tho  larboard 
l»attery.  Aa  aoon  aa  they  were  clear,  the  Kng  mhman  put  hia 
liclin  liurd  up,  with  the  intention  to  worn  abort  round,  and  get 
n  mking  fire  at  iIhj  Hornet ;  but  tho  inanatuvre  waa  cloaoly 
watohod  and  promptly  imitated,  and,  firuig  hia  ainrboani  guna, 
he  waa  obliged  to  rifcht  hia  helm,  aa  tho  Hornet  wna  coming 
«lown  on  hia  quarU-r,  in  a  [wrfiict  blaae  of  Are.  The  latter 
cloaed,  and  maintaining  the  admirable  poaition  aho  hod  taken, 
p<.urcd  in  her  abut  with  audi  vigour,  that  a  little  before  ft  40, 
the  enemy  not  only  lowered  hia  onaign,  but  he  hoiatinl  it  union 
•town,  in  tho  fore-rigging,  aa  a  aignal  of  diatreaa.  Hia  mam- 
maat  aoon  afUsr  fell. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Shubrick  waa  acnt  on  board  to  take  poaaoaaion. 
Thia  officer  aoon  rclurnetl  with  tho  information  that  the  priM 
WBH  the  encmy'a  aloop  of  war  Peacock  18,  Captain  Penke,  and 
that  nhe  wan  font  ainking,  hoviiig  already  aix  f««t  of  water  in 
her  hold.  Mr.  Conner,  the  third  lieutcnont  of  the  Home*,  and 
Mr.  n.  Cooper,  one  of  hor  midahipmen,  were  immediately  dca- 
palchod  with  boato,  to  got  out  tho  woundml,  and  to  endeavour 
to  save  the  veaael.  It  won  too  late  for  the  latter,  though  everv 
cjiertion  was  made.  Iloth  veaaela  wore  immodiot«5lv  anchored, 
guna  were  thrown  overboard,  ahotOiolca  pluggeil.and  rccouraa 
waa  had  to  the  pumpa,  and  even  to  bailing ;  but  i ho  short  twi. 
light  of  that  low  latitude  left  tho  prize-crew,  before  the  prieonera 
could  bo  renwved.  In  the  hurry  and  confuaion  of  auch  a 
acene,  and  while  the  boaU  of  tho  Hornet  «»cr«  obaent,  four  of 
tho  Engliahmon  lowore<l  tho  atom  boat  of  tho  Peacock,  which 
h«d  been  thought  too  much  injured  to  be  uaod,  jumped  into  it, 
and  pulled  for  the  land,  at  the  Imminent  riak  of  their  Uvea. 
Mr.  Conner  bMame  aniaibla  that  the  brig  waa  in  momentery 

•  Tbata  advwtorara  fo«  aabore  aafcly. 


276 


NAVAL    H18TORT. 


[MB. 


danger  of  sinking,  ana  he  endeavoured  to  collect  the  ^•«'.ple  "^  ■ 
tnaining  on  board,  in  ho  Peacock's  launch,  which  still  stuod 
on  deck,  the  fall  of  the  main-mast,  and  the  want  of  time,  hav- 
ing  prevented  an  attempt  to  get  it  into  the  water.  Unforturotoly, 
a  good  many  of  the  Peacock's  people  were  below,  rummaging 
the  vessel,  and  when  the  brig  gave  her  last  wallow  it  was  too 
late  to  save  them. 

The  Peacock  settled  very  easi'.y  but  suddenly,  in  five  and  a 
half  fathoms  water,  and  the  two  American  officers,  with  most 
of  the  men,  and  several  prisoners,  saved  themseU'es  in  the 
launch,  though  not  without  great  exertions.  Three  of  the 
Hornet's  people  went  down  in  the  brig,  and  nine  of  the  Pea- 
cock's were  also  drowned.  Four  more  of  the  latter  saved 
themselves  by  running  up  the  rigging  into  the  foretop,  which 
remained  out  of  wat'^r,  afler  the  hull  had  got  to  the  bottom. 
The  launch  had  no  oars,  and  it  was  paddled  by  pieces  of 
boards  towards  the  Hornet,  when  it  was  met  by  one  of  the  cut- 
ters of  that  ship,  which  was  returning  to  the  brig.  The  cutter 
immediately  pulled  towards  the  Peacock's  fore-mast,  in  the 
hope  of  finding  some  one  swimming ;  but,  with  the  exception 
of  those  in  the  top,  no  person  was  saved. 

In  this  short  encounter,  the  Peacock  heA  her  captain  and 
four  men  killed,  and  thirty-three  wounded.  The  Homei  had 
one  nian  killed,  and  two  wounded,  in  addition  to  two  men  badly 
burned  by  the  explosion  of  a  cartridae.  She  suffered  a  good 
deal  aloft,  had  one  shot  through  the  foremast,  and  the  bowsprit 
was  hit. 

The  Peacock  was  a  vessel  of  the  Hornet's  sire,  being  a  little 
shorter,  but  having  more  beam.  Her  pr>per  armament  was 
thirty-twos,  but,  for  sonne  reason  that  is  not  known,  it  had 
been  changed  for  lighter  guns,  and  in  the  action  she  mounted 
16  twenty-four  pound  carronades,  2  light  long  guns,  a  twelve 
pound  carronade  on  her  topgallant  forecastle,  and  another  light 
long  gun  aft.  By  her  quarter-bill,  she  had  180  men  on  board, 
at  the  time  she  was  taken.  This  force  rendered  her  inferior 
to  the  Hornet,  which  ship  mounted  18  thirty-two  pound  car- 
ronades and  two  long  twelves.  The  Hornet  in  the  action 
mustered  136  men  fit  for  dut^. 

Notwithstanding  the  supenori^  of  the  Hornet,  the  same  dis- 
parity between  the  execution  and  the  difference  in  force,  is  to 
be  seen  in  this  action,  as  in  those  already  mentioned.  In  al- 
lowing the  Hornet  to  get  the  weather-gage,  the  Peacock  was 
out-manoBUvred ;  but,  with  this  exception,  she  is  understood  to 


i 


v 


[1819. 

I  ,ie«^iple  1^  • 
still  atuod 
'  time,  hav- 
forturatoly, 
rummaging 
it  was  tuo 

five  and  a 
,  with  most 
U'es  in  the 
iree  of  the 
of  the  Pea- 
atter  saved 
etop,  which 
the  bottom. 
y  pieces  of 
)  of  the  cut' 

The  cutter 
nast,  in  the 
le  exception 

»ptain  and 
Hornet  had 
}  men  badly 
red  a  good 
he  bowsprit 

being  a  little 
(lament  was 
lown,  it  had 
he  mounted 
OS,  a  twelve 
nothcr  light 
n  on  board, 
her  inferior 
pound  car- 
I  the  action 

Msantedis- 
force,  is. to 
sed.  In  al- 
'eacock  was 
iderstoodto 


1813] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


277 


have  been  well  managed,  though  her  gunnery  was  defective. 
The  only  shot  that  touched  the  hull  of  the  Hornet,  was  one 
fired  OS  the  latter  ship  was  falling  off,  in  waring ;  it  merely 
glanced  othwart  her  bows,  indenting  a  plank  beneath  the  cat- 
head. As  this  shot  must  have  been  fired  from  a  aUrboard 
gun  of  the  Peacock,  the  fact  demonstrates  how  well  she  was 
andled ;  and  that,  in  waring,  her  commander  had  rightly  esti- 
mated and  judiciously  used  the  peculiar  powers  of  a  brig, 
though  the  quick  movements  of  his  antagonut  deprived  him  of 
the  result  he  had  expected,  and  immediately  gave  the  Hornet 
a  decided  advantage  in  position.  It  would  be  cavilling  to  deny 
that  this  short  combat  was  decided  by  the  superior  gunnery 
and  rapid  handling  of  the  Hornet. 

As  the  brig  at  anchor  might  come  out  and  attack  her,  the 
greatest  exertions  were  made  on  l)oarcl  the  Hornet  to  be  in 
readiness  to  receive  the  enemy,  and  by  9  o'clock  at  night,  new 
sails  had  been  bent,  her  boats  were  stowed,  the  ship  was 
cleared,  and  every  thing  was  ready  for  another  action.  At  2 
A.  M.,  she  got  under  way,  and  stood  to  the  northward  and 
westward,  under  easy  sail.  Captain  Lawrence  finding  that  he 
had  now  277  souU  on  boord,  bcluding  the  people  of  another 

Erize,  and  that  he  was  short  of  water,  determined  to  return 
ome.  The  allowance  of  water  was  reduced  to  three  pints  a 
man,  and  the  ship  ran  thrciigh  the  We  r -Indies,  anchoring  at 
Holmes's  Hole,  in  Martha's  Vineyard,  on  the  19th  of  March ; 
whence  she  came  through  the  Vineyard  and  Long  Island 
Sounds  to  New  York  without  meeting  an  enemy. 

The  successes  of  the  Constitution  and  Hornet,  two  of  the 
Teasels  of  Commodore  Bainbridge's  squadron,  served  greatly 
w  'ncroase  the  popularity  of  the  navy.  Thar  commanders 
were  rewarded  with  roedalo,  iwords,  and  vo»es  of  thanks,  by 
difibrent  legislatures;  and  Captain  Lawrence  was  promoted, 
and  transferred  to  the  command  <^  the  Chesapeake. 

Congress,  by  this  Ume,  began  to  feel  more  confidence  in  the 
ability  to  withstand  British  prowess,  and  a  law  had  been  passed 
on  the  2d  of  January,  to  increase  the  naval  force  of  the  coun- 
try. By  the  provisums  of  this  act,  the  President  was  empow- 
ered to  build  four  ships  to  rate  not  less  than  seventy-fMir  gur»s, 
and  six  ships  to  rate  at  forty-four  guns  each.  This  was  at 
once  multiplying  the  force  of  the  navy  tenfold,  and  it  may  be 
esteemed  the  first  step  that  was  ever  actually  put  in  execution, 
towards  establishing  a  marine  that  might  prove  of  materml 
iwnnent,  in  infiuenong  the  results  of  a  war.  Measures  were 
24 


.3...JL 


378 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


[1819. 


taken  immedia'  ^y  to  lay  the  keels  of  some  of  the  ships  of  the 
line,  and  Commodore  Bainbridgc,  being  appointed  to  superin- 
tend the  construction  of  one  of  them,  relinquished  the  com- 
mand  of  the  Constitution. 

Another  law  passed,  un  the  3d  of  March,  directing  six  sloops 
of  war  io  be  built  on  the  sea-board,  and  authorising  the  construc- 
tion of  as  many  vessels  on  Iho  lakes  as  the  public  service  re- 
quired. Congress  also  voted  handsome  sums  to  the  officers 
and  crews  of  the  ships  that  had  destroyed  captured  vessels  of 
war,  in  the  way  of  prize-money. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


Whbn  Commodore  Bainbridge  sailed  from  Boston,  the  Es- 
sex, still  under  the  command  of  Captain  Porter,  was  lying  in 
the  Delaware.  She  quitted  that  river  the  28th  of  October,  or 
two  days  after  the  other  ships  of  the  squadron  '^ad  ^t  to  sea. 

The  Essex  was  singularly  unfortunate  in  not  falling  in  with 
an  enemy  of  any  sort  for  several  weeks,  and  on  the  11th  of 
Ijiecember,  she  crossed  the  equator  in  longitude  30°  W.,  tlie 
same  bad  luck  attending  her.  On  the  12th,  however,  about  2 
P.  M.,  a  vessel  was  seen  to  windward,  which  had  every  ap- 
pearance of  an  enemy's  man-of-war  brig.  At  six,  the  stranger 
began  to  show  signals,  which  went  to  confirm  the  idea  of  his 
character.  As  tne  chase  was  still  to  windward,  and  night 
was  coming  on  fast,  an  unsuccessful  effort  was  maide  to  decoy 
her  down,  by  making  signals  in  return.  At  sunset  the  brig 
showed  English  colours,  and,  when  it  was  sufficiently  dark,  she 
made  some  night-signals.  By  9  P.  M.  the  Essex  succeeded  in 
getting  within  musket-shot.  Captain  Porter  soon  after  hailed, 
and  ordered  the  brig  to  settle  her  topsails,  haul  up  her  courses, 
and  to  heave-to  to  windward.  At  the  same  time  orders  were 
gnen  to  the  different  divisions  not  to  fire  into  the  stranger,  as 
K  was  very  desirable  to  get  possession  without  doing  him  er>y 
injury.  Instead  of  complying  with  the  directions  of  Captain 
Porter,  however,  the  brig  endeavoured  to  cross  the  stern  of  the 
Emex,  by  keeping  away,  probably  with  an  intention  to  rake 
her,  and  to  escape  to  leeward.    This  drew  a  volley  of  mm- 


^Jt. 


%mBm»»M.fiimmmm.M 


[1819. 


1618.] 


MAVAS.    HIHTORY. 


279 


ketry  from  the  frigate,  which  killed  one  man,  when  the  brig 

struck.  ,      »T  K, 

The  prize  waa  the  British  government  packet  Nocton  10, 
with  a  crow  of  31  men.  On  board  of  her  were  found  $56,000 
in  specie.  The  next  day  a  crew  of  17  men  wns  put  into  the 
Noclon,  under  the  orders  of  Acting  Lieutenant  Finch,  who  was 
instructed  to  make  the  best  of  his  way  to  America.  This  offi- 
cer had  got  between  Bermuda  and  the  Capes  of  Virginia,  m 
the  execution  of  his  duty,  when  ho  was  compelled  to  heave-to 
in  a  gale.  Just  as  the  weather  moderated,  a  Hritish  frigate  was 
made  to  windward.  Mr.  Finch  tried  the  sailing  of  the  bria 
with  the  enemy,  on  different  tacks,  but  finally  put  away  dead 
before  the  wind,  as  the  only  means  of  escape.  As  it  was  not 
in  the  power  of  the  prize-crew  to  make  sail  with  sufikient 
rapidity  to  compete  with  a  frigate's  complement  of  men,  the 
Nocton  was  soon  within  reach  of  the  enemy's  guns,  and  a  few 
shot  were  fired,  which  did  some  injury  to  her  rigging.  Mr. 
Finch,  however,  held  on,  until  the  enemy  had  got  close  upon 
his  quarter,  and  'vas  about  to  fire  a  volley  of  musketry,  when, 
escape  being  hopeless,  he  struck.  Thus  did  the  Essex  lose 
her  first  prize,  though  the  specie  had  been  taken  out  of  her, 
and  was  rendered  secure  by  being  subsequently  used  on  ac- 
count of  the  government.  .    .    ,.T 

On  the  14th,  the  Essex  made  the  island  of  Fernando  de  No- 
ronha,  and  communicated  with  the  land,  without  going  in. 
Here  Captain  Porter  obtained  the  letter  from  Commodore  Bain- 
bridge,  informing  him  that  he  would  find  the  other  vessels  ofT 
Cape  Frio.  From  this  time,  unUl  the  25th,  the  ship  was  mak- 
ing her  passage  towards  the  coast ;  on  the  afternoon  of  that 
day,  she  hove-to  ofT  the  pitch  of  the  Cape,  where  no  signs  were 
to  be  seen  of  the  Constitution  or  Hornet.  Three  days  afler- 
wards,  in  fact,  the  first  of  these  vemels  captured  the  Java  off 
St,  Salvador.  After  cruising  a  short  time,  at  this  rendezvous, 
the  Essex  was  drawn  a  long  distance  to  leeward  in  chase ;  and 
in  attempting  to  beat  up  again  to  her  station,  she  was  met  b^ 
heavy  weather,  which  mduoed  Captain  Porter  to  change  hu 
cruising  ground.  On  the  morning  of  the  29th,  the  frigate  cap. 
tured  an  English  merchant  vessel,  which  proved  to  be  one  of 
a  convoy  of  six  sail,  in  chai^  of  a  man-of-war  schooner,  that 
had  left  Rio  the  night  previously,  this  vessel  having  put  back 
in  consequence  of  discovering  a  leak.  On  obtaining  this  intel- 
ligence, Captain  Porter  followed  on  the  track  of  the  convoy, 
and  after  a  long  and  fruitless  chase,  he  determined  to  gc  off 


280 


NAVAL    HIBTOET. 


11811. 


St.  Salvador,  in  order  to  intercept  it.  While  beating  up  with 
thia  intention,  information  was  received  from  different  Portu* 
guose  vosaols,  of  the  presence  of  the  other  ships  c  f  the  squadron 
off  the  port,  and  renewed  efforts  were  made  to  join.  But  strong 
northerly  winds  prevailed,  and  Captain  Porter,  after  struggling 
with  them  a  week,  decided  to  run  into  St.  Catherine's  to  water. 

Having  been  disapiwinted  in  his  attempts  to  fall  in  with  the 
commodore,  at  three  rendezvous,  and  ascertaining  that  the  Mon- 
tnau  74,  had  sailed  from  Rio  to  raise  the  blockade  of  the  ves- 
aeLi  at  St.  Salvador,  Captain  Porter  was  greatly  at  a  loss  which 
way  to  steer,  in  order  to  join  the  other  snips.  It  was  near  the 
end  of  January,  1813,  and,  in  point  of  fact,  the  Constitution 
had  left  the  coast  on  the  6th  of  that  month,  on  her  way  home. 
As  the  Hornet  followed  her  on  the  84th,  in  determining  to  act 
for  himself,  during  the  remainder  of  le  cruise.  Captain  Porter 
came  to  a  happy  decision. 

The  Essex  left  St.  Catherine's  on  the  SOth  of  January,  1818, 
for  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  after  a  most  tempestuous  passage 
round  the  Horn,  she  fell  b  with  the  pleasant  southwest  breezes 
of  that  sea  on  the  6th  of  March,  and  at  meridian  of  that  day 
her  people  got  a  distant  view  of  the  Andes.  On  (he  6th,  she 
anchored  at  the  island  of  Mocha. 

The  Essex  was  now  fairly  in  the  Pacific,  though  she  had 
not  fallen  in  with  an  enemy  for  two  months.  There  was  but 
one  chart  of  the  ocean  in  the  ship,  and  that  was  very  small 
and  imperfect ;  the  provisions  were  getting  short,  and  the  ves- 
ael  was  much  in  want  of  cordage.  Notwithstanding  these  ne> 
oeesities.  Captain  Porter  felt  reluctant  to  let  his  arrival  be 
known  until  he  made  a  few  captures,  hopmg  to  supply  his  ship 
from  prizes.  Anxious  to  obtain  information  of  the  British  force, 
by  the  same  means,  he  determined  to  cruise  a  short  time  before 
he  proceeded  to  Valparaiso.  An  ill  fortune,  however,  continued 
to  prevail,  and  for  many  days  the  ship  waa  enveloped  in  foga. 
She  continued  standing  alone  shore,  to  the  northward ;  and  on 
the  18th,  while  runnmg  before  a  stiff  southerly  breeze,  she 
rounded  the  Point  of  Angels,  shot  ipto  full  view  of  the  port  and 
town  of  Valparaiso,  and  was  becalmed  under  the  guns  of  « 
battery. 

As  he  had  English  colours  flying.  Captain  Porter  came  to  a 
conclusion  not  to  go  in,  for,  taking  a  survey  of  the  shipping  in 
port,  and  perceiving  several  Spaniards  ready  to  sail,  he  thought 
It  prudent  to  let  them  get  to  sea  before  the  arrival  of  an  Ameri. 
can  ".raiser  became  known  in  the  place.    The  ship's  head  was 


[1811. 

ing  up  with 
srent  Portu- 
ho  aquadron 

But  strong 
ir  struggling 
b's  to  water. 
i  in  with  the 
liat  the  Mon- 
I  of  the  ves* 
n  loss  which 
^as  near  the 
Constitution 

way  home, 
ining  to  act 
plain  Porter 

uary,  1813, 
}us  passage 
trest  breezes 
of  that  day 
the  6th,  she 

gh  she  had 
ere  was  but 

very  small 
ind  the  ves^ 
ig  the^e  oe> 

arrival  be 
>pl^  his  ship 
iritish  force, 
time  before 
r,  continued 
pied  in  fogs, 
urd ;  and  on 
breeze,  she 
he  portend 

guns  of  a 

r  came  tea 
shipping  in 
hetiMM^ht 
'an  Ameri' 
s  head  waa 


1613.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


281 


consequently  kept  to  the  northward,  and  the  breeze  striking 
her  again,  she  ran  the  town  out  of  sight  in  an  hour  or  two. 
On  the  16lh,  however,  the  ship  returned,  made  the  Point  of 
Angels  once  more,  went  in,  and  anchored.        * 

To  the  astonishment  of  Captain  Porter,  ho  now  ascertained 
that  Chili  had  declared  itself  independent  of  Spain,  and  his  re> 
ception  was  an  favourable  as  he  could  have  desired.  Ho  also 
learned  that  the  Viceroy  of  Peru  had  sent  out  cruisers  agoinsi 
the  American  shipping,  and  that  his  appearance  in  the  Pacific 
was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  American  trade,  which 
lay  at  the  mercy  of  the  English  letters  of  marque,  and  of  these 
Peruvian  corsairs.  This  was  cheering  intelligence,  after  the 
fat^ues  and  disappointments  of  a  cruise  of  so  manv  months. 

For  more  than  a  week  the  Essex  was  employed  in  victual* 
ling.  During  this  time  an  American  whaler  came  in  from  the 
islands.  According  to  the  accounts  of  her  master,  the  Ameri- 
can whalers,  which  had  left  honw  during  a  time  of  peace,  lav 
entirely  at  the  mercy  of  those  of  the  enemy ;  several  of  which 
had  sailed  as  regular  letters  of  marque,  and  all  of  which  were 
''more  or  less  armed.  Many  of  the  American  vessels,  as  they 
often  kept  the  sea  six  months  at  a  time,  were  probably  still  ig« 
norant  of  the  war ;  and  it  was  known  that  ono  of  them,  at 
least,  had  already  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  English.  Aa 
soon  as  imperfectly  victualled,  the  frigate  went  to  sea,  to  profit 
'  by  this  intelligence. 

On  the  25th,  the  Essex  fell  in  with  the  American  whale 
■hip  Charles,  and  learned  that  two  other  vessels,  the  Walker 
ana  Barclay,  had  been  captured  a  few  days  previously,  off 
Coquimbo,  by  a  Peruvian,  with  an  Elnglish  ship  in  company. 
Sail  was  made,  in  consequence,  in  the  mrection  of  Coquunix), 
and,  a  few  hours  later,  a  stranger  was  seen  to  the  northward. 
This  vessel  was  aoon  ascertained  to  be  a  cruising  ship,  dia> 
Buiaed  as  a  whaler.  She  showed  Spanish  ooloars,  when  the 
Essex  set  an  Englbh  ensign,  fired  a  gun  to  leeward,  and  the 
Charles,  which  remained  in  company,  hoisted  the  American  flag 
beneath  an  English  jack.  The  Spaniard  now  ran  down,  and» 
when  about  a  mile  distant,  he  fired  a  shot  ahead  of  the  Essex, 
which  that  ship  answered  by  throwing  a  few  shot-over  him,  to 
bring  bum  nearer.  When  close  enough,  the  Spanish  ship  sent 
an  armed  boat  to  board  the  Essex,  and  it  was  directed  to  go 
back  with  an  order  for  the  cruiser  to  run  under  the  frigate's 
lee,  and  to  send  an  officer  to  i^locize  for  the  shot  she  had 
filed  at  an  Gnglish  nian.of-war.  lliia  command  was  oooi- 
24» 


asriir^*' 


282 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[ISIt. 


plied  with,  and  tho  nhip  was  nsccrtained  to  bo  tho  Peruvian  prl* 
vatecr  Neroydu,  armed  with  18  guns,  and  with  a  Ibll  crew. 
Tho  lieutenant,  who  now  camo  on  board,  informed  Captain 
Porter  that  tlHsy  were  cruising  tor  Anwricans ;  that  they  had 
already  taken  tho  Walker  and  the  Barclay ;  that  the  Englisli 
letter  of  marque  Nimrod  had  driven  their  prixc-crew  from  un 
board  tho  Walker ;  that  they  were  then  cruising  expressly  to 
look  for  the  Nimrod,  with  tho  intention  of  obtaining  redress  ; 
and  that  they  had  mistaken  the  Essex  for  tho  latter  ship.  It 
would  seem  that  the  Peruvians  cruised  against  tho  Americans, 
under  the  impression  that  Spain,  then  so  dependent  on  Eng* 
land  for  her  existence,  would  declare  war  speedily  against  the 
United  States,  in  consequence  of  the  war  declared  by  the  lattor 
against  tho  King  of  Great  Britain,  which  might  legalise  their 
captures. 

An  interview  with  the  master  of  the  Walker  satisfied  Cap- 
tain  Porter  that  the  captured  ships  had  been  illegally  seized ;  and 
hoisting  American  colours,  he  nred  two  shots  over  the  Neroyda, 
when  that  vessel  struck.  Her  crew  were  all  sent  on  board  the 
Essex,  and  the  three  ships  stood  in-shore  to  look  into  Coquimbo, 
in  tho  hope  of  finding  the  Nimrod  and  the  prizes,  but  without  sue- 
cess.  The  next  morning,  the  entire  armament  of  the  Nereyda, 
with  all  her  ammunition,  shot,  smalUarms,  and  light  sails, 
were  thrown  overboard,  and  she  was  otherwise  put  in  a  condi* 
tion  to  do  no  harm,  when  she  was  released.  It  is  worthy  of 
remark,  that  the  guns  of  this  vessel  were  of  iron,  while  her 
shot  of  all  descriptions  were  of  copper ;  the  abundance  of  this 
latter  material  in  that  part  of  the  world,  rendering  it  cheaper 
than  the  metal  usually  employed  for  such  purposes. 

From  the  master  and  crew  of  the  Barclay,  Captain  Portei> 
obtained  a  list  of  such  of  the  whaling  vessels  as  they  knew  to 
be  in  the  Pacific.  It  contained  the  nan>es  of  twenty-three  Ame- 
rica!), and  of  ten  English  ships.  The  former  was  |>robably 
the  moRt  correct,  as  his  informants  added  that  quite  twenty 
Englishmen  were  thought  to  be  in  that  sea.  The  latter  were, 
in  general,  fine  vessels  of  near  400  tons  burthen,  and,  as  has 
been  said  already,  they  were  all  niore  or  less  armed. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  the  ship  was  up  with  the  island  of 
San  Gallon,  when  she  hauled  off  to  the  northward  and  west- 
ward,  with  a  view  to  cross  the  track  of  inward-bound  vessels. 
The  next  day,  three  sail  were  made,  standing  for  Callao. 
Every  thing  was  set  to  cut  the  strangers  off,  particularly  the 
one  nearest  in,  which  had  the  appearance  of  the  Barclay.    The 


[1813. 

Poruvian  pri> 
a  llill  crew, 
mod  Captnin 
tiat  thuy  had 
t  the  Englisli 
rew  from  on 
expressly  lo 
ing  redress ; 
toi'  ship.  It 
)  Americans, 
jent  on  Eng> 
y  against  the 
by  the  latter 
legalise  theii 

latisfied  Cap- 
Y  seized ;  and 
the  Nerovda, 
on  board  the 
loCoquimbo, 
:  without  suc> 
the  Nereyda, 
I  light  sails, 
It  in  a  condi- 
is  worthy  of 
n,  while  her 
dance  of  the 
g  it  cheaper 

iptain  Porten 
hey  knew  to 
^•thiee  Aine< 
ras  i^robably 
quite  twenty 
I  latter  were, 

and,  as  has 
ed. 

le  island  of 
d  and  west- 
Hind  vessels. 

for  Callao. 
ticularly  the 
irclay.    Tim 


IStS.] 


NAVAL     HI8T0RT. 


283 


chow,  however,  would  hove  escaped,  had  she  not  been  be- 
calmed  when  she  doubled  the  point  of  San  Lorenzo.  At  this 
moment  the  frigate  was  ncor  a  league  distant,  but,  fortunately, 
she  kept  the  ba-eze  until  she  hnd  got  within  a  hundred  yards 
of  the  enemy,  when  she  lowered  her  boats,  and  took  posses- 
sion The  prize  proved  to  be  the  Barclay,  as  had  been  ex- 
pectwl.  There  was  now  a  good  opportunity  of  looking  into 
the  harbour,  and  finding  that  nothing  had  arrived  from  Valpa- 
raiso  to  disclose  his  presence  in  the  Pacific,  Caotain  Porter 
showed  English  colours,  while  the  Barclay  homtbd  the  Amort- 
can  under  the  enemy's  ensign.  In  this  manner  both  vessels 
went  into  the  offing,  where  the  Barclay  was  given  up  to  her 
proper  officers,  though  most  of  her  crew  having  entertjd  in  the 
Essex,  and  declining  to  rejoin  the  ship,  her  master  preferred 
keeping  in  company  with  the  frigate,  offering  to  act  as  a  pilot 
in  searching  for  ihe  enemy.  With  this  underbianding,  the  two 
vessels  stretched  off  to  the  northward  and  westward. 

From  the  end  of  March  until  the  middle  of  April,  the  '^'"^ 
with  the  Barcloy  in  company,  was  standing  across  frpm^h* 
main  towards  the  islands,  and  on  the  17th  she  made  Chatham 
Island ;  but  no  ship  was  found  there.  From  this  place  the  fn- 
mto  went  to  Charles's  loland,  where  she  had  the  same  want  of 
success.  At  the  latter  island,  however,  was  a  box  called  "  the 
post-offico,"  in  which  the  masters  of  the  whalers  were  accus- 
tomed to  leave  written  cccounts  of  their  luck  and  movements, 
and  much  information  was  obtained  from  them,  concemmgthe 
different  ships  in  the  Pacific. 

The  Essex  continued  passing  from  island  to  island,  without 
meeting  with  any  thing,  until  her  ctt>w  was  aroused  by  the 
cheering  cry  of  "  sail  ho  I"  on  the  mommg  of  the  29th.  A 
ship  was  made  to  the  westward,  and,  soon  after,  two  more  a 
little  further  south.  Chase  was  given  to  the  first  VMsel,  which 
was  spoke  under  English  colours,  about  9  A.  M.  She  proved 
to  be  the  British  whale-ship  Montezuma,  with  1400  barrels  of 
oil  on  board.  Throwing  a  crew  into  the  prize,  the  Essex  next 
made  sail  after  the  two  other  ships,  which  had  taken  the  alarm, 
and  endeavoured  to  escape.  At  11  A.  M.,  when  the  frigate 
was  about  eight  miles  from  the  two  strangers,  it  fell  calm,  and 
the  boats  were  hoisted  out  and  sent  against  the  enemy,  under 
Mr.  Downes,  the  first  lieutenant.  About  2  P.  M.  the  party  got 
within  a  rnlTe  of  th«i  nearest  ship,  when  the  two  strangers,  who 
were  a  quarter  of  a  mile  apart,  hoisted  English  colours,  and 
fit«d  several  guns.    The  boats  now  formed,  and  pulled  for  the 


884 


NAVAL   HiiToar. 


{iBia. 


largMt  shin,  which  kupt  training  hor  giina  on  thorn  aa  Uioy  sp. 
pniacht'd,  'mt  istr(icl(  without  tiring  a  nhot,  ju«t  an  tho  bottrder« 
w«ro  cliwiug.  Thu  nvcoiiiI  vcwmjI  imitated  hor  examplo,  when 
attiickcHl  in  tho  wtino  innnnor, 

Tho  priioit  wt'TO  tho  Ucurgiana  and  tho  Policy,  both 
whalera;  and  tho  llmni  ahiiw,  toinsthor,  furnished  the  Emox 
with  many  important  aupplioa.  Thoy  had  broad,  beof,  pork, 
cordaffo,  water,  and  among  othor  uttoUil  things,  a  great  number 
of  Oallapagoa  tortoinoti. 

The  Uoorgiana  had  btx-n  built  for  tho  service  of  tho  English 
East  India  Company,  and  having  tho  reputation  of  being  a  fast 
vt!«nl.  Captain  l\)rtor  dotermined  to  oquin  her  as  a  cruiser, 
with  tho  double  pyrpoao  of  having  an  ossutanl  in  looking  for 
tho  enemy,  and  of  pussoiwing  a  consort  to  roccivo  his  own  crew 
in  tho  event  of  any  nccidoul's  occurring  to  tho  Essex.  Thia 
ship  was  pierced  for  19  guns,  and  had  0  mounted  when  taken. 
The  Pblicy  waa  also  pierced  for  the  samo  number,  and  had  10 
guna  mounted.  Tho  latter  were  now  added  to  the  armament 
of  tho  Oeorgiana,  which  gave  her  16  light  guns.  All  the 
anMUImrma  were  oollectod  from  tho  prizca  and  put  in  her,  her 
trv-worka  were  Ukon  down,  and  other  alterationa  made,  when 
Nlr.  Downea  waa  placed  in  command,  with  a  crew  of  41  men. 
By  thia  orraogomont,  it  waa  believed  that  the  Oeorgiana  would 
be  fUIly  able  to  capture  any  of  the  Enaliah  lettera  of  marque, 
known  to  be  oruiaing  among  the  iaianda.  In  conaequence  of 
thoae  ohaogea,  and  the  manning  of  the  two  other  priiea,  not- 
wilhatanding  aevenU  onliatmenta,  the  craw  of  the  Eaaex  was 
raduoed  to  964  aoula,  oflScera  included.  On  the  8tb  of  May,  the 
QtorgkuM  16,  Lieutenant-Comnuutdant  Downea,  hoisted  the 
Amorioan  pennant,  and  fired  a  aaUite  of  17  guna. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

A  raw  triala  proved  that  the  Oeorgiana  could  not  hold  way 
with  the  BasPx,  and  that  her  reputation,  aa  a  iaat  vessel,  was 
unmerited.  Still,  as  she  had  been  relieved  from  much  of  her 
lumber,  ahe  outaailed  the  other  shipa,  and  hopes  were  enter* 
tainod  of  her  being  made  usefiil.    Aocoidingly,  on  the  13tb, 


iJHUBMIUJUMIJIIlWWWi 


iHm 


(1813. 

oiti  aa  Uioy  op< 
M  tho  iKMirdcrii 
oxarnpio,  when 

Policy,  both 
ihcil  the  Emox 
ttd,  boof,  pork, 
a  great  number 

of  tho  English 

of  being  a  faat 
r  u  n  cruiser, 

in  looking  for 
a  hia  own  crow 

Eaaox.  Thi* 
ad  when  taken, 
cr,  and  had  10 

the  firmament 
[Una.  All  the 
)ut  in  her,  hor 
IS  made,  when 
ewcr41  men. 
»rgiana  would 
ira  of  marque, 
msequence  of 
or  prizes,  not- 
ho  Essex  woa 
lthorMay,the 
•,  hoisted  the 


not  hold  wty 
i8t  voswl,  wi« 
I  much  of  her 
s  were  enter* 
oa  the  12tb, 


1811] 


NAVAL   HISTORY. 


265 


she  parted  comi«ny,  with  orders  to  cruise  against  the  "n«my, 
and  to  rrndozvoua  at  difTcrcnt  places  on  the  coaat,  aa  well  m 
at  varioua  iaianda,  in  a  regulor  auccoaaion  aa  to  tinjo.  I  hem- 
pamtion  waa  not  l..ng.  however  tho  Ocorgiana  «>king  int.. 
bharlea'a  laland,  in  quest  of  Kngliah  voaaela,  at  a  moment 
when  the  Eaaox  happened  to  be  thoro  .m  lh.>  aam«  "mnd. 

Tho  Goorgiana  waa  now  sent  to  Albnmarlo  lalnnd,  Captain 
Porter  having  reason  to  aupposo  that  a  particular  ship  ol  tho 
enemy  waa  in  that  nuartor.  Tho  Ef«« /""•'""'i'" 'J" ''^ 
nity  of  Charl««'s  Iafan.l,  capturing  tho  AHantic,  of  Bflft  t^s, 
34  men,  and  8  guna,  on  the  evening  of  tho  28th  of  May.  1  tio 
imo  night  ahoLk  tho  Omenwich,  of  a:W  tona.  »«?""-.  ^"/^ 
89  men.  Thoao  several  captures  nearly  alnppod  tho  friaate 
of  her  officora,  and  she  uiled  for  Tumbc*,  where  she  arrived 
on  the  19lhof  Juno.  ^  .     . 

Whilo  cnii«ing  ooar  James's  Island,  Mr.  Downos  hod  caj^ 
tured  tho  British  whalo  ships  the  Catherine,  of  370  tons,*  8 
ffuns,  and  20  men,  and  the  Rows,  of  230  tons,  8  ^uns,  ond  81 
men     Thewj  two  vessels  wore  taken  with  no  nssistanoo,  their 
masters  Waving  come  on  board  the  Goorgiana,  '"thout  sus- 
pectinff  her  character.    After  manning  hispnass,  Mr.  Uownes 
Ud  but  20  men  and  boys  left  in  tTie  Gfeoyana,  when  ho 
chased  and  closed  with  a  third  whaler,  called  tj»  "~'°''  * 
ship  of  870  tons,  86  men,  and  11  guns,  though  pierced  for  80^ 
At  this  time,  Mr.  Downes  hod  also  50  pmoners.  "o*  "^ jj)"^, 
he  was  c-mpelled  to  put  in  irons,  before  he  brought »»»  H«fO' 
to  acUon.    When  within  hail,  the  latter  ship  was  orderedto 
haul  down  her  colours,  but  reftised,  and  th"^"*"^"  STJ*^ 
fire  upon  her.    A  sharp  combat  followed,  "when  the  Hector 
•iruck,  with  the  lost  of  her  maintopmast,  having  had  nwrt  of 
her  standina  and  running  rigging  shot  away.    She  had  also 
two  men  killed,  and  six  wounded.  u.4  u. .  in  «-.«  l.l» 

After  manning  the  Hector,  Mr  Downes  hadbut  10  men  left 
in  the  GeoiBfana;  and,  including  the  wounded,  h«  had78 
prisoners.  The  Rote  being  a  dull  ship,  he  threw  o«n*«Md 
her  guns,  and  most  of  her  cargo.  *nd,  paroling  his  pn«~"» 
he  mve  her  top  to  them,  on  condition  that  they  should  sail  di- 
rect  for  St.  Helena.  As  toon  as  this  arrangement  was  made, 
he  made  sail  for  Ttimbei,  to  join  the  Essex,  at  which  port  ho 
arrived  on  the  94th  of  June.  j.v.«.«„.„ 

The  little  fleet  now  amounted  to  nine  wi'tJovherB  was  an 
opportunity  to  make  new  arrangements.  The  At  antic  being 
DMriy  100  tona  larger  than  tho  Oeorgiana,  at  well  at  a  much 


pa 


NAVAL    IIIITORT. 


[1811 


faster  ihip,  hcsldos  {KHMCisina,  in  a  greater  dogroc,  every  ma- 
terial quality  fur  a  cruiaer,  Mr.  Uownca  and  hit  crew  were 
tnnuferrfd  to  hor.  Twmity  guna  woin  mountixl  in  Ihii  now 
aloop  of  war ;  the  waa  namcJ  the  r^aex  Junior,  and  nmunod 
with  60  rn«"n.  Tho  Gn>cnwich  waa  alao  convurlJHl  into  a  utoro- 
ahip,  and  all  tho  »\)ani  atorra  of  tho  oilier  voaanl*  wero  ar'nt  on 
board  li«r.  Uhc  waa  alao  armod  with  'iO  guna,  though  her 
crew  waa  mnrcly  atrong  enough  to  work  hor. 

On  the  auth  thn  ttmt  aailvd,  thn  Kaac;  and  Buoex  Junior 
keeping  in  (-oin|Miny,  with  all  tho  carp«}ntci-a  at  work  at  the 
latter.  On  tho  4th  o(  July  a  gnnoral  aniulo  waa  lirod,  orinci- 
pally  with  tho  guna  and  ammunition  of  tho  nnomy.  On  tho 
9th,  tho  Eaoox  Junior  partinl  company,  bound  to  Val|)araiao, 
with  the  Hector,  Cathorino,  Policy,  and  Monteauma,  priiae, 
and  tho  Dnrflay,  recaptured  ahip,  undor  convoy. 

Aa  aoon  an  out  of  aight  of  tho  othor  ahipa,  tho  Boeex,  Oreen* 
w^ph,  and  Goorgiann  ator-nHj  to  thn  wcatward,  with  an  inten- 
tion  of  going  oinonK  tho  OallatNigoa.  On  tho  Idth,  throo  oail 
wore  mado  off  Itonlca*  Bay,  all  on  a  wind,  and  a  good  deal 
■eparatod.  The  Eaaex  gave  chaae  to  the  ono  in  tm  centre, 
which  lod  hor  dovn  to  leowvrd,  leaving  the  Oreenwich  and 
Ooorgiana  a  long  distanco  aatorn  ond  to  windward.  While 
the  frigate  waa  thua  ao|>aratod  from  her  prizea,  one  of  the 
•trangerii  tacked,  and  endeavoured  to  cut  the  latter  off*,  but  the 
Qreonwich  hove-to,  got  a  portion  of  tho  people  out  of  the 
Goorgiona,  and  bore  down  boldly  on  her  adveraary ;  while  the 
Eoaox  continued  afUsr  tho  vcmoI  aho  waa  chaaing,  which  aha 
•oon  captured.  Thia  ahip  wna  the  Engliah  whater  Charlton, 
of  274  tona,  10  guna,  and  21  men.  Throwing  a  crew  into 
ber,  the  frigate  immcdiatelv  hauled  her  wind. 

It  waa  now  oocerteined  from  the  priaonen,  that  the  largeat 
of  the  alninge  ahipa  waa  tho  Soringapatam,  of  867  tt  n^,  14 
gi<n8,  and  near  40  men  ;  and  the  amalleat,  the  New  Zoalandor, 
of  309  tona,  8  guna,  and  23  men.  Tho  Soringapatam  had 
been  built  for  a  cruiaor,  and  aho  waa  probably  tho  moat  dan> 

Biroua  veoael  to  tho  American  trade  to  the  weatward  of  Cape 
cm.  Captain  Porter  felt  a  ccrroaponding  dosiro  to  get  pea 
oeoaion  of  her,  and  waa  much  gratified  witn  the  bold  maniMr 
in  which  the  Greenwich  had  borne  down  on  her.  Thia  ahip 
waa  under  the  command  of  a  very  young  oflicer,  but  he  had 
the  advice  of  one  of  the  aea-lieutenanta,  who  waa  under  ous- 
penaion,  and  who  behaved  with  great  gallantry  and  apirit  oo 
thia  occaaion.    Cloaing  with  the  Soringapatam,  the  Baaei  b»> 


mmma 


NKI 


[1613. 

pM,  every  ma- 
hit  crew  wart 
1x1  in  thi»  n«w 
r,  and  nmiinml 
I(h1  into  a  Htcirn- 
il«  worn  wni  on 
M,  (hough  h«r 

I  Emwx  Junior 
Hi  work  nt  the 
la  A  rod,  urinci> 
lumy.     On  the 

to  Val|)araiao, 
tesunu,  priiaa, 
r. 

)  Eaaex,  Greao* 
with  nn  intea* 
lath,  thrm  aail 
d  a  good  doal 

in  tho  centre, 
3reflnwich  and 
iword.  While 
MM,  one  of  the 
liter  oflT,  but  the 
pie  out  of  the 
lary ;  while  the 
intf,  which  nhe 
lawr  Charlton, 
ig  a  crew  into 

hat  the  largest 
r  857  Um,  14 
ifew  Zoalan«k)r, 
ingapatam  had 
tiw  moat  dan< 
tward  of  Cape 
lire  to  get  poe 
B  bold  manner 
er.  This  ahip 
er,  but  he  had 
ras  under  aue* 
r  and  apirit  OB 
the  Baaei  b»> 


taUk) 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


3§7 


ina  «  long  di.lnnro  t.)  leeward,  the  Oreenwwh  brought  her  to 
wTion.  and  after  a  few  bn«.Ui.W.  tho  hnglwh  «hip  «ruck. 
Boon  aft.r,  however,  and  hi.foni  i«)wf*.ion could  be  taken, ahe 

made  an  atlem|.t  to  mar  •»>  !•«••'"«  '"  *"•"'*■"'•  '"  *"""'» 
iho  waa  fru«lmt.d  by  the  pcrwivorum-e  ol  tho  Oreenwich, 
which  veawil  kept  cloae  on  tho  enemy'a  quarter,  maintounng  a 
ipirite.1  ftre,  lor  the  number  of  men  on  board.  Aa  the  Kmo» 
wa«  coming  up  fa.l,  tho  Heni.K«|ml«m  finally  gave  up  the  at- 
tempt,  and  running  down  to  iIki  frigate,  again  .ubmitted. 

In  thia  af&ir,  aa  in  that  of  the  liool*,  and  m  tim  rapture  oT 
the  Hector  by  the  (Jeorgiana,  the  offlrcrs  and  men  engage.! 
merit.Hl  high  encomiuma  f«»r  their  intrepidity  and  coolneaa. 
The  (Jreenwich,  after  obtaining  the  handa  (Vom  the  Goorgiana, 
did  not  probably  muaUr  ftve-.ind.lw.<nty  men  »«  quortors,  and 
the  Horingapatam  waa  much  the  better  ship.  Tho  New  ^«a- 
lander  waa  taken  without  any  difficulty. 

Tho  Seringapatam  hfcl  made  ono  prize,  her  master  n*»«?g 
turned  his  attention  more  to  cniiaing  than  to  WM""?-  ^ 
inquiry,  notwithstonding,  it  was  found  that  ho  had  adopted  thia 
course  in  anticipation  of  a  c.«nmiasion.  having  actually  sailed 
without  one.  When  this  lact  was  aacorUinod,  Captain  For- 
tor  put  the  master  in  irons,  and  ho  subaeqtiently  sent  him  to 
America  to  bo  tried.  Finding  himself  embarrassed  wuh  hia 
prisoners.  Captain  Porter  gave  tho  Cl»rlton  up  to  them,  and 
sufibred  them  to  prooec*',  to  Rio  .fc;  Janeiro,  under  parole.  He 
then  took  tho  guna  out  of  tho  Now  Zoalander,  and  inounted 
them  in  tho  SoringapaUm,  by  which  meana  ho  gave  tho  latter 
ship  an  nrmnmont  of  22  guns,  though,  as  m  the  caso  of  tho 
Greenwich,  her  people  were  barely  sufficient  to  work  her. 

On  tho  25th  of  July,  the  Gcoraiona  waa  despotohod  to  tM 
United  States  with  a  Aill  cargo  of  oil.  As  soon  aa  the  Tessela 
Mparated,  the  Emn,  with  the  Greenwich,  Senitaapatam,  aiid 
New  Zoalander  in  company,  shaped  hor  course  for  Albemarle 
Island.  On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  another  strange  sail  waa 
disoowfwi }  but  aa  ahe  had  a  fresh  breew,  and  the  fnwte  waa 
becalmed,  ahe  waa  soon  out  of  sight.  When  the  wind  came, 
howerer,  the  Easex  ran  in  a  direction  to  intercept  the  stran- 

Er ;  and  the  next  morning  he  waa  again  seen,  from  the  maat- 
ad,  standing  acroas  tho  Esaex'a  bows,  on  a  bowline.  At 
the  wind  waa  light,  iwsourae  waa  now  had  to  the  drags,  and  tho 
ahip  got  within  Tour  milea  of  the  chase,  wWch  waa  ovidentl; 
an  enemy's  whaler.  The  stranger  becoming  alaimed,  got  hio 
boitta  abeod  to  tow,  whos  Captain  Porter  sent  a  gtg  and  whale. 


988 


NAVAL    HliTORr, 


(Ilia 


bMi,  wilt)  It  A)w  gnod  markinMn  in  ihnin,  unck«r  Ariing  hmu' 
tvnani  M'Knighl,  with  unlnn  to  uka  a  nnaitUm  nhi^aifof  tho 
ehaan,  «mi  (o  iJrivn  in  h<^r  linnU,  but  on  n»  acriHjnt  to  ntttimpt 
to  hcMr«l.  Thia  liuiy  wna  hMmlaorncly  rxnrutml,  though  tlw< 
boat*  hml  gn<nt  difninilty  in  inninlnining  their  (XMilion  within 
muakoi-ahul,  n«  tho  tmomy  ^^nt  two  guiM  on  hia  forauaaUo,  aiul 
ktpt  up  •  Wftrm  diarhargn  of  gnipo. 

At  4  P.  M.,  ih'j  ahiim  wnrn  llitln  mom  than  a  \mam  apart, 
perfijclly  bernlnvHl,  arul  (laptain  Portnr  onlfiml  thn  (mat*  into 
lh«  wnlfr,  to  rnrry  Ihn  alrnngcr  hy  iMwrding.  Aa  lh<f  foi^y 
draw  nnar,  thn  enoniy  coinim!nci>d  D^ing,  but,  intimidalmi  by 
ihoir  ateady  and  orderly  approach,  ho  aoon  lownmd  hia  nnaign. 
The  boata  wera  about  to  talcn  poaacaaion,  when  a  brtwnxn  from 
tho  fwatward  auddnnly  alriking  tho  Knjjliah  ahip,  aha  haulod 
up  cloan  nn  a  wind,  hoialcxl  hor  cnloura  again,  Amd  at  thn  gig 
•nd  whalo-boal  aa  she  jmummhI  quite  n«ir  ihern,  and  went  off, 
•t  a  rapid  rate,  to  the  northwanl.  Tho  |>arty  attempted  to  Tol* 
low,  but  it  waa  aunaet  before  the  Kaaex  gut  the  wind,  and,  un* 
willing  to  leave  her  boata  out  in  the  darkm-aa,  ahe  waa  com* 
polled  to  h«ave>to,  at  0,  in  order  to  hoiat  them  in.  Tho  neit 
morning  the  chaae  waa  out  oC  aight. 

Thia  waa  the  flrat  inatance,  aince  her  arrival  in  tho  Pacific, 
in  which  the  Eaaei  had  (kiled  in  getting  alongaido  of  a  chaae 
that  ahe  did  not  voluntarily  abanoon.  It  produced  much  mor- 
Uflcation,  though  the  eocape  of  the  nnnmy  waa  owing  to  one 
of  thoae  oocurrenoea,  ao  common  in  aummcr,  that  loavo  one 
•hip  without  a  breath  of  air,  while  another,  quite  near  her,  haa 


•  good  breeM. 
OntI 


the  4th  of  August,  the  ahips  went  into  Jamea'a  laland 
•nd  anchored.  Here  Captain  Porter  made  the  important  dia- 
oovery  that  a  large  portion  of  hia  powder  had  Ihwo  damaged 
in  doubling  Cape  Horn.  Fortunately,  thn  Scringapatim  could 
•upply  the  deficiency,  though,  in  doing  ao,  that  ahip  waa  ren- 
dered nearly  del^nceleaa.  On  tho  33d  of  Auguat,  all  the  vea- 
•ela  procceaed  to  Banka'  Bay,  where  tho  prizca  were  moored, 
•nd  the  Beaex  aailed  on  a  abort  cruiae,  alone,  on  the  34th. 

After  paaaing  amoug  the  iaianda,  without  meeting  any  thing, 
•  tail  waa  diaoovered  on  the  morning  of  the  lOth  of  Sontcm- 
ber,  apparently  lving<to,  a  Ions  diatanco  to  tho  aouthward  and 
to  winaward.  The  B«*ex  waa  immediately  diaguiocd,  by  Bond- 
ing down  aome  of  the  light  varda,  and  tlie  ahip  kept  turning 
to  windward,  under  eaay  aail.  At  moi  idinn,  the  vomela  wore 
•0  near  each  other,  that  the  stranger  was  oacortained  to  be  • 


[IMi 

'  Acting  hmt- 
ahead  of  ihtf 
lint  to  nittmipt 
n\,  though  the 
IMMilion  within 
fofouMtlOa  mi) 

lt«gufl  ap«rt, 
iho  tioal«  into 

\n  lh«»  (>«rty 
intimidated  by 
red  hia  finaign. 
a  brmwifl  flmm 
lip,  aha  haulnd 
\rnd  at  thn  |{ia 

and  wpnl  olf, 
tnmntMl  to  foU 
wind,  and,  un< 

•ha  waa  com* 
in.    Tho  nott 

in  tho  Pacific, 
Ida  of  a  choat 
wd  much  mor* 
owin|{  to  on« 
that  leave  one 
0  near  her,  ha« 

Jamea'a  Island 

important  dia- 
lM)cn  damag«)d 
igapstim  could 

ship  waa  rvn- 
mt,  all  the  vea- 

wero  moored, 
n  the  34th. 
ting  any  thing, 
Ith  of  Scntem- 
southward  and 
uiacd,  by  aond- 
p  kept  turning 
le  Teaaela  wow 
ttioed  to  be  • 


«»•' 


U,    III  I      II     III' 


'itaM 


MateMMMMUMMM* 


m^lmmmtimJk'm 


1813.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


389 


whaler,  in  the  act  of  cutting  in.  He  waa  evidently  drifting 
down  fust  on  the  frigate.  At  1  P.  M.,  when  the  ships  were 
about  four  miles  apart,  the  stranger  cast  off  the  whales,  and 
made  all  sail  to  windward.  As  it  was  now  evident  that  he 
had  taken  the  alarm,  the  Essex  throw  aside  all  attempts  at  dis- 
guise, and  pursued  him,  under  every  thing  that  would  draw. 
By  4  P.  M.,  the  frigate  hud  the  stranger  within  reach  of  her 
guns ;  and  a  few  shot,  well  thrown,  brought  him  down  under 
her  lee.  This  ship  was  the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  of  301 
tons,  12  guns,  and  31  men;  and  she  proved  to  be  the  vessel 
that  had  escaped,  in  the  manner  previously  related.  Fortu. 
nately,  the  prize  had  a  largo  supply  of  excellent  beof,  pork, 
bread,  wood,  and  water,  and  the  Essex  got  out  of  her  an  am. 
pie  stock  of  those  great  necessaries.  On  returning  to  Banks* 
Bay  with  her  prize,  the  ship  shortly  after  was  joined  by  tho 
Essex  Junior,  on  her  return  from  Valparaiso.  By  this  arrival, 
Captain  Porter  discovered  that  several  enemy's  vessels  of  force 
had  sailed  in  pursuit  of  him ;  and  having  by  this  time  captured 
nearly  all  the  English  whalers  of  which  he  could  obtain  Intel- 
ligence,  he  determined  to  proceed  to  the  Marquesas,  in  order 
to  refit,  and  to  make  his  preparations  for  returning  to  America. 
He  was  urged  to  adopt  this  resolution,  also,  by  understanding 
from  Mr.  Downes  that  the  government  of  Chili  no  longer  pre- 
served the  appearance  of  omity  towards  the  United  States,  but 
was  getting  to  be  English  in  its  predilections. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Ow  the  28d  of  October  the  group  of  the  Marquesas  vas 
made  from  the  mast-head  of  the  Essex,  and  after  passing 
among  the  islands  for  a  few  days.  Captain  Porter  took  his  ships 
into  a  fine  bay  of  Nooaheevah,  where  he  anchored.  Here  he 
was  soon  after  joined  by  the  Essex  Junior,  which  vessel  had 
parted  company  to  cruise,  when  he  believed  himself  sufliciently 
secure,  to  commence  a  regular  overhauling  of  the  difierent 
shira. 

The  situation  of  the  Essex  was  sufiiciently  remarkable,  at 
this  moment,  to  merit  a  brief  notice.  More  than  ten  thousand 
S5 


fHHI 


290 


NAVAL    HIBTOEY 


[1613 


milM  from  homo,  without  colonicB,  stations,  or  even  a  really 
friendly  port  to  repair  to,  short  of  stores,  without  a  consort, 
and  otherwise  in  possession  of  none  of  the  required  means  of 
Bubsistence  and  clficicucy,  she  had  boldly  steered  mto  this  dis- 
tant  region,  where  she  hud  found  all  that  she  required,  through 
her  own  activity ;  and  having  swept  the  seas  of  her  enemies, 
she  had  now  retired  to  these  little-frequented  islands  to  refit,  with 
the  security  of  a  ship  at  home.  It  is  due  to  the  officer,  who 
ao  promptly  adopted,  and  so  successfully  executed  this  plan, 
to  add,  that  his  enterprise,  self-reliance,  ond  skill,  indicated  a 
man  of  bold  and  masculine  conception,  of  great  resources, 
and  of  a  high  degree  of  moral  courage ;  qualities  that  are  in- 
dispensable  in  forming  a  naval  captain. 

The  island  of  Nooaheevah,  on  which  Captain  Porter  landed 
his  stoitis,  was  intpisected  by  valleys,  and  different  tribes  jhw- 
•essed  them,  forming  distinct  communities,  which  not  unfre- 
quontty  waged  war  en  each  other,  converting  this  little  and 
retired  fragment  of  the  earth  into  an  epitome  of  the  passions 
and  struggles  of  the  world  beyond  it.  In  consequence  of  his 
intimate  connexion  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley  in  which 
he  was  accidentally  thrown.  Captain  Porter  was  compelled  to 
join  in  these  hostilities,  the  assailants  of  his  allies  beginning  to 
treat  him  as  an  enemy.  After  some  fruitless  negotiating,  a 
party  was  sent  against  the  hostile  tribe,  and  several  conflicU 
occurred,  in  which  the  armed  seamen  and  marines  prevailed, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  though  not  without  a  sharp  resistance. 
This  success  quieted  the  island ;  and  during  the  remainder  of 
his  stay.  Captain  Porter  appears  to  have  been  unmolested. 

It  has  been  seen,  that  the  Essex  reached  he  Marquesas  at 
the  close  of  October,  and  in  the  early  part  of  December  she 
was  again  ready  for  sea.  In  the  course  of  November,  the  New 
Zealander-was  filled  with  oil,  from  the  other  prizes,  and  dea- 

g Itched  for  America,  under  the  charge  of  a  master's  mate, 
hortly  after,  a  fort  was  constructed  on  a  small  conical  hill, 
near  the  water,  when  the  Seringapatam,  Sir  Andrew  Hammond, 
and  Greenwich,  were  warped  close  in,  and  moored  under  its 
guns.  The  command  of  this  fort  was  given  to  Lieutenant  John 
M.  Gamble,  of  the  marines,  a  spirited  and  intelligent  young 
oifioer ;  and  Messrs.  Fellus  and  Clapp,  two  of  the  midshipmen, 
with  twenty-one  men,  were  i>ut  under  his  orders,  having  vo- 
lunteered to  remain  on  the  island  during  the  conteniplalad 
cruise  of  the  Enmc.  Thia  arrangement  was  made  to  aecuie 
the  means  of  future  repairs,  as  it  was  now  believed  that  bo 


' 


mmmm 


[1819 

)r  even  a  really 
ithout  a  consort, 
squired  means  of 
tcrcd  into  this  dis- 
rcqtiircd,  through 

of  her  enemies, 
lands  to  refit,  with 

the  officer,  who 
ecuted  this  plan, 
skill,  indicated  a 

great  resources, 
ilitiea  that  are  iii- 

ain  Porter  landed 
tfercnt  tribes  pos- 
which  not  unfre- 
ng  this  little  and 
le  of  the  passions 
snsequence  of  his 
e  valley  in  which 
was  compelled  to 
lilies  beginning  to 
ess  negotiating,  a 
i  several  conflicts 
narines  prevailed, 
i  sharp  resistance. 

the  remainder  of 
n  unmolested. 

he  Marquesas  at 

of  December  she 
ovember,  the  New 
r  prizes,  and  dea* 

a  master's  mate, 
imall  conical  hill, 
Lndrew  Hammond, 

moored  under  its 
to  Lieutenant  John 

intelligent  young 
)f  the  midshipmen* 
orders,  having  vo* 

the  contenipwlad 
M  made  toaecura 
IT  believed  that  M 


1813.] 


NAVAL    HISTORT. 


291 


more  whalers  were  to  bo  found,  and  the  Essex  was  going  to 
sen,  in  the  expectation  of  meeting  one  of  the  frigates  that  it 
was  known  had  been  sent  into  the  Pacific,  in  pursuit  of  her. 

Tho  Bsscx,  and  Essex  Junior,  quitted  the  harbour  of  Nooa- 
hecvah,  on  the  12th  of  December,  1813,  bound  for  the  coast 
of  South  America,  which  was  made  early  in  January.  Aftjir 
watering  at  San  Maria,  and  looking  into  Concepcion,  the  ships 
proceeded  to  Valparaiso.  Up  to  this  time,  not  a  dollar  had 
bajn  drawn  for,  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  frigate.  The  ene- 
my had  furnished  provisions,  sails,  cordage,  medicines,  guns, 
anchors,  cables,  and  slops.  A  considerable  amount  of  pay 
even  had  been  given  to  the  officers  and  men,  by  means  of  the 
money  taken  in  tho  Nocton.  Thus  far,  the  cruise  had  been 
singularly  useful  and  fortunate,  affording  an  instance  of  the 
perfection  of  naval  warfare,  in  all  that  relates  to  distressing  an 
enemy,  with  tho  least  ponsible  charge  to  the  assailants ;  and  it 
remamed  only  to  terminate  it  with  a  victory,  over  a  ship  of 
equal  force,  to  render  it  brilliant.  It  is,  perhaps,  a  higher  eu- 
logium  on  the  officers  and  crew  of  this  memorable  littlo  frigate 
to  add,  that  while  her  good  fortune  appeared  at  last  to  desert 
her,  they  gave  this  character  to  their  enterprise,  by  the  manner 
in  which  they  struggled  with  adversity. 

After  the  arrival  at  Valparaiso,  it  was  found  that  the  feelings 
of  the  Chilian  government  had  taken  an  entirely  new  direction, 
as  had  been  reported  by  Mr.  Downes,  favouring  on  all  occa- 
sions the  interests  of  the  English,  in  preference  to  those  of  the 
Americans.  Without  paying  much  regard  to  this  circumstance, 
however.  Captain  Porter  determined  to  remain  in,  or  ofT,  the 
port,  in  waiting  for  the  Phoebe  36,  Captain  Hillyar,  one  of  the 
ships  sent  out  in  quest  of  him,  under  the  impression  that  hor 
commander  would  not  fail,  sooner  or  later,  to  seek  him  at  that 

E'  ce.  There  was  also  the  prospect  of  intercepting  such  of  the 
slish  traders  as  might  happen  to  touch  at  the  port. 
The  Phffibe  arrived  as  was  expected,  but  instead  of  coming 
alone,  she  had  the  Cherub  20,  Captain  Tuckui*,  in  company. 
When  these  ships  hove  in  sight,  the  Essex  Junior  was  cruising 
off  the  harbour,  and  she  came  in  and  anchored.  As  the  Phoebe 
alone  was  a  vessel  of  a  heavier  rate  than  the  Essex,  this  addi- 
tion to  her  force  put  a  conflict  between  the  four  ships  quite  out 
of  the  question.  Captain  Porter,  who  had  every  opportunity  or 
observing  the  armaments  of  the  two  English  vessels,  states,  in 
hit  official  communicatiraa  to  the  department,  that  the  Phoebe 
mounted  80  long  eighteens,  16  thirty.two>pound  carTonadet, 


292 


NAV  "^ 


'f'fol*  i> 


[1811. 


with  one  howitzer,  and  6  i.  ..  her  topi.   Thw  wn»  a  forced 

equipirnnt  for  a  ship  of  \m  .««>,  but  the  IM  pnbably  taken 
in  extra  tiam  with  a  view  to  meet  cho  Essex.  Her  crew  is  said  to 
have  ronsifted  of  »aO  souls.  The  Cherub  20  mounted  18  thirty, 
two  pound  carronadcs  below  with  8  twenty-four  pound  car- 
ronades  and  U  long  nines  above,  making  a  total  of  28  guns,  and 
her  crew  mustered  180  men  and  boys.  In  consequcnco  of  the 
number  of  prizes  that  had  been  manned,  some  deaths  that  had 
occurred,  and  the  people  placed  in  the  Essex  Junior,  the  Ame- 
rican friKHte  could  muster  but  266  souls,  notwithstanding  the 
enlistments  she  had  made  from  the  whalers.  The  force  of  the 
Essex  Junior  was  too  inconsiderable  to  bo  relied  on,  in  an  ac- 
tion against  ships  of  a  metol  as  heavy  as  thot  of  the  enemy. 
She  mounted  10  eighteen-pound  carronades  and  10  short  sixes, 
with  o  crew  of  60  souls.  Her  guns  would  have  been  of  little 
■ervice  in  a  frigate  action. 

As  the  Phoebe  came  in,  the  wind  was  light,  and  she  passed 

?uite  near  the  Essex,  with  her  people  at  quarters.  Captain 
lillyar  hailed,  and  inquired  ortcr  the  health  of  Captain  Porter . 
After  making  the  usual  reply,  the  latter  informed  the  English 
officer  that  if  the  vessels  got  foul,  much  confusion  would  ensue, 
and  that  he  could  not  be  answerable  for  the  consequences. 
Captain  Hillyar  now  observed  that  he  did  not  meditate  any  at- 
tack,  though  the  monner  in  which  this  was  uttered,  d<^  not 
appear  to  have  quieted  the  suspicions  of  the  American  officers. 
While  the  two  vessels  and  their  crews  were  in  this  novel  posu 
lion,  the  Phoebe  was  taken  suddenly  aback,  and  her  bows 
payed  off  directly  upon  the  Essex.  Captain  Porter  immediately 
called  away  his  boarders,  and  for  a  few  minutes  there  was 
every  appearance  of  a  combat  in  a  neutral  port. 

A  great  deal  of  confusion  is  said  to  have  existed  on  board 
the  Phoebe,  and  her  commander  was  earnest  in  his  protesta- 
tions  of  an  intention  not  to  have  recourse  to  ho8tiliti«i,  while 
he  handled  his  yards  in  a  way  to  get  a  stern-board  on  his  ship. 
As  she  fell  off,  the  jib-boom  of  the  Phoebe  passed  over  the 
E^ex's  deck,  ond  she  lay,  for  a  short  time,  with  her  bows  ex- 
posed  to  the  whole  broadside  of  the  American  frigate,  and  her 
stern  to  that  of  the  Essex  Junior.    Captain  Porter  declining  to 

Krofit  by  his  advantage,  the  Phoebe  was  enabled  to  get  out  of 
er  awkward  situation,  there  being  no  doubt  that  she  had  lain 
entirely  at  the  mercy  of  her  enemies.  There  can  be  little 
question  that  this  extraordinary  occurrence  would  have  fully 


[iei>. 

lis  was  a  forced 
probably  taken 
ir  crew  if  said  to 
anted  18  thirty- 
four  pound  car* 
of  26  guns,  and 
isequcnco  of  the 
deaths  that  had 
iintor,  the  Amo« 
rilhatanding  the 
rho  force  of  the 
cd  on,  in  an  ac- 
t  of  the  enemy. 
1 10  short  sixes, 
ve  been  of  little 

and  she  passed 
krtera.  Captain 
Captain  Porter. 
md  the  English 
ion  would  ensue, 
e  consequences, 
meditate  any  at- 
uttered,  does  not 
merican  officers. 
I  this  novel  posi* 
:,  and  her  bows 
irter  immediately 
uutes  there  was 
rt. 

existed  on  board 
in  his  protesta- 
hostilities,  while 
oard  on  his  ship, 
passed  over  the 
^ith  her  bows  ex- 
1  frigate,  and  her 
orter  declining  to 
tied  to  get  out  of 
that  she  had  lain 
jre  can  be  little 
urould  have  iblly 


814.] 


NATAL     HI8T0RT. 


justified  the  American  sKip  in  having  recourse  to  hor  means 
of  defence. 

The  English  ships,  having  obtained  some  supplies,  wont 
outside  and  cruised  oft'  Valparaiso  for  six  weeks.  During  this 
time,  the  Eftsex  made  ncvural  attempts  to  engngo  the  Fhcebe 
alone,  sometimoft  by  bringing  her  to  action  with  the  Essex 
Junior  in  company,  and  at  others,  by  bringing  her  to  action 
singly,  having  the  crew  of  the  Essex  Junior  on  board  the  fri« 
gate.  Captain  Porter  ascertained  to  his  satisfaction,  that  he 
could  easily  outsail  either  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  but  hia 
object  was  not  so  much  to  escape,  as  to  capture  the  Fhcobe, 
which  ho  had  reason  to  think  ho  might  do,  could  ho  bring  her 
to  close  action,  without  her  consort's  interference. 

A  short  time  aflor  the  blockade  had  commenced.  Captain 
Porter  determined  to  make  an  attempt  on  the  Cherub  by  board- 
ing. A  strong  party  was  detailed  for  this  service,  Captain 
Porter  and  Lieutenant  Downer  both  accompanying  it.  The 
boats  went  out  at  night,  and  at  first  had  strong  hopes  of  being 
able  to  get  alongside  of  the  enemy  ;  but,  by  the  subsequent 
movements  of  the  Cherub,  the  Americans  were  induced  to  think 
that  the  English  received  an  intimation  of  their  intention  in  the 
course  of  the  night. 

Having  heard  that  several  other  cruisers  of  the  enemy  might 
soon  be  expected.  Captain  Porter  now  determined  to  go  to  sea, 
on  the  first  good  occasion,  and  by  leaving  the  Phoebe  and 
Cherub  off  the  coast,  «o  allow  the  Essex  Junior  to  follow. 
This  plan  was  formed  i  the  27th  of  March.  The  very  next 
day  the  wind  came  on  to  blow  fresh  from  the  southward,  when 
the  Essex  parted  her  larboard  bower,  and  dragged  the  other 
anchor  directly  out  to  sea.  The  harbour  of  Valparaiso  opens 
to  the  northward,  being  formed  by  a  headland  on  its  western 
side,  and  a  cove  that  makes  to  the  southward  within  it ;  the 
m'-.in  coast  sweeping  round  to  the  north  and  east  again,  aflbrd- 
ing  the  necessary  protection.  On  the  28th  of  March,  when 
the  accident  just  mentioned  occurred,  the  enemy's  ships  were 
at  nc  great  distance  off  the  point,  though  far  enough  to  allow 
the  Essex  to  fetch  past  to  wmdward  of  them,  by  hugging  the 
land.  The  Point  of  Angels,  however,  is  an  exceedingly  dan* 
gerous  bluff  to  double,  and  most  ships  deem  it  prudent  to  reef 
before  going  roupd  it,  on  account  of  the  liability  to  sudden  and 
violent  squalls. 

As  there  was  no  time  to  lose,  sail  was  got  on  the  Essex. 
Dn  openinff  the  enemy,  Captain  Porter  took  in  his  topgallant* 
«5 


M 


394 


jtAVAL     MlBTOftT. 


[1814. 


Mils,  hauled  clo«e  by  the  wind,  and  made  an  attempt  to  paaM 
out,  by  kcwjiing  hit  woatlmrly  poaition.  Every  thing  looked 
promuina  lor  a  «hort  liino;  und  there  ia  little  queation  that  the 
•hip  woJld  have  goiw  clour,  but,  in  doubling  the  hendland,  a 
■quail  carried  awuy  the  inain-lopinaul,  throwing  ncvcral  incn 
into  the  aea,  all  ol"  whom  werti  drowned.  NoUiing  rijmnujcd, 
of  oourae,  but  to  endeavour  to  regain  the  port,  or  lo  fight  both 
Use  enemy's  nhipa,  under  the  additional  diwdvantago  of  bumg 
already  crippled. 

Finding  it  inijioaaiblo  to  beat  up  to  the  common  anchorn^, 
Captain  IHirtor  stood  aorou  the  entrance  of  the  harbour,  to  iIh 
northcaatcm  aide,  w  liere  lie  lot  go  an  anchor,  about  ihroo  miles 
from  llw  town,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  Coatcllo  Viogo, 
whiuu,  however,  woa  c«)ncealcd  by  -  Muff,  half  a  mile  from  u 
detached  buttery  of  one  iwcnty-four-pound  aun,  and  withm 
pistol-ahot  of  the  ahore.     Notwithstanding  this  immiHoii,  the 
enemy  continued  to  approach,  and  it  soon  became  evident,  by 
the  motto  (laga  ead  jacks  he  set,  that  it  was  his  serious  inten- 
tion to  engage.     The  Essex,  in  consequence,  cleared  for  action, 
and  nttomptod  to  get  a  spring  on  her  cable,  but  had  not  suc- 
ceeded in  etiecting  this  important  object,  when  the  Phaabe, 
having  obtained  an  advantageous  position,  nearly  astern,  about 
4  P.  l3.  opened  her  fire,  at  long  shot.     At  the  same  time,  the 
Cherub  commenced  the  action  on  the  starboard  bow.    The  fire  ^ 
of  the  Phtebe,  IVom  the  double  advantage  she  possessed  in  her 
lonit  guns  and  her  station,  became  very  destructive,  as  scarce 
a  gun  ftom  the  Es*>x  could  touch  her.    The  Cherub,  however, 
waa  Buon  driven  off,  when  she  ran  down  to  leeward,  and  on- 
gaged  IVom  a  poallion  near  that  taken  by  the  Phmhe.    Throe 
long  twolvoe  were  got  out  aft,  and  they  played  with  so  much 
eflhot  on  the  enemy,  that  at  the  end  of  half  an  hour,  both  hia 
ahipa  hauled  off  the  land  to  repair  damages.    This  important 
ftot,  which  ia  affirmed  by  the  Americans,  is  sufficiently  cor- 
roborate by  the  accounts  of  the  enemy. 

During  thia  first  attack,  the  Essex,  through  the  great  exer^ 
tiona  of  the  master  and  boatswain,  had  succeeded  in  getting 
springs  on  the  cable  no  less  than  three  different  times,  but 
before  the  ship's  broadside  could  be  sprung  to  bear,  they  wero 
as  often  shot  away.  The  ship  also  received  a  great  deal  of 
injury,  and  aeveral  men  had  been  killed  and  wounded.  Not- 
withstanding  all  the  disastrous  circumstances  under  which  they 
engaged,  and  the  sujwrior  foras  opposed  to  them,  the  officers 
and  cr»!W  of  tl»i  Esaox  were  animated  by  the  beat  spirit,  and  it 


attempt  to  poiiM 
ry  thing  looked 
|uo»tion  that  the 
iho  huniiland,  a 
Dg  tiovoral  incn 
Liiing  riunniuod, 
ur  lu  liglit  both 
atitago  ot'  being 

mon  anchora^, 

0  harbour,  to  itH 
,bout  throo  milci* 

Cttstcllo  Viogo, 
If  a  milo  rrom  u 
zun,  and  within 
Ilia  itositioD,  the 
;umv  ovidont,  by 
)is  serious  inten- 
Icarcd  for  action, 
/Ut  had  not  suc- 
hen  tho  Phoobc, 
irly  oatnrn,  about 
a  same  time,  tho 
d  bow.  The  fire 
possessed  in  her 
active,  as  scarce 
;hcrub,  however, 
leeward,  and  on- 

1  Phcehe.  Throe 
ed  with  so  much 
m  hour,  both  his 

This  important 
I  sufficiently  cor* 

;h  the  great  exer- 
ceeded  in  getting 
flferent  times,  but 
J  bear,  they  were 
d  a  great  deal  of 

wounded.  Not- 
under  which  they 
them,  the  officers 

beat  spirit,  and  it 


18U.1 


NAVAL    MIBTOB  ft 


205 


was  not  possible  for  etlbrts  to  bo  more  coolly  made,  or  better 

directed.  ....  i  i^.k 

The  rnomy  was  not  long  m  makmg  his  repairn,  anU  both 
•hips  next  took  a  position  on  tho  starboard  quarter  of  the 
Esw'x,  whore  it  was  not  in  tho  powor  of  the  latter  vossiil  to 
bring  a  single  gun  to  bear  u\Hm  llicm,  as  they  wore  too  distant 
to  be  reached  by  carronados.  Tlioir  tiro  was  very  galling,  «nd 
it  left  no  alternative  to  Captain  Porter,  between  «u».mi»iiion, 
and  running  down  to  assail  tliom.  Ho  gallantly  dccKksd  on 
the  latter.  But,  by  this  time,  the  Essex  had  received  many 
serious  injuries,  in  adililion  to  the  loss  of  her  topmast.  Her 
topHail  sheets,  topsail  halyords,  jib  and  forc-tonmost  staysail 
holyards,  had  all  been  shot  away.  Tlw  only  sail  that  could  be 
got  uiK)n  the  ship,  to  moko  her  head  pay  otF,  was  the  flying 
Tib,  which  was  hoisted,  when  tho  cable  was  cut,  and  the  veamA 
odgcKl  away,  with  the  intention  of  laying  the  Phcabe  aboard. 

The  fore-topsail  and  foresail  wore  now  let  fall,  though,  for 
want  of  Ucks  ond  sheets,  they  were  nearly  useless.  Still  the 
Essex  drove  down  on  her  assoilanU,  closing  near  enough  to 
open  with  her  carroiades.  For  a  few  minutes,  the  hnng  on 
both  sides  was  tremendous,  tho  people  of  the  Essex  proving 
their  discipline  and  gallantry,  at  that  trying  moment,  in  a  way 
ta  justify  all  the  high  expectations  that  had  been  formed  of 
.hem,  though  their  docks  wer«  already  strewed  with  killed,  and 
the  cockpit  was  crowded  with  the  wounded.  This  work  proved 
too  hot  for  the  Cherub,  which  hauled  off  a  second  time,  nor 
did  she  como  near  enough  to  u»o  her  carronodcs  again,  durii^ 
the  remainder  of  tlie  action,  keeping  up  a  distant  hro  with  her 
Ions  guns.  .  ^, 

The  Phoebe  showed  no  disposition  to  throw  oway  the  im- 
mense advantage  she  jposscssed,  in  her  long  eighteens;  and 
when  she  found  tho  Essex's  fire  becoming  warm,  she  kept 
edging  off,  throwing  her  shot  at  the  same  time  with  fatal  eWect, 
catting  down  the  people  of  her  antagonist  almost  with  impunity 
to  herself.  By  this  time,  many  of  the  guns  of  the  American  ship 
were  disabled,  and  the  crews  of  several  had  been  swept  away. 
One  particular  gun  was  a  scene  of  carnage  that  is  ■eldom  wit- 
nessed in  a  noval  combat,  nearly  three  entire  crews  falling  at 
it  in  the  course  of  tho  action.  Ito  captain  alone  e*«ped  with 
a  slight  wound.  ,    ,  i    «^ 

This  scene  of  almost  unresisted  carnage  had  now  lasted 
nearly  two  hours,  and,  finding  it  impossible  to  close  with  his 
advemry,  who  chose  his  distance  at  pleasure,  Captain  Porter 


.-*■■» 


890 


NAVAL    HIITOBT. 


(IIU. 


fi)lt  tho  nnccMity  or  taking  mmo  prompt  meuuro,  if  he  wo<.>ld 
pravciit  llifl  DiMuiiy  frMiii  ut'tting  |MNMrMi(in  of  hii  ihip.  The 
wind  hint  got  more  to  lh«  wtmtwnrtl,  and  ho  mw  a  hop  o'' 
running  h<!r  nshoru,  at  a  *|M>t  whc-ni  ho  might  land  !iia  ixNiple 
and  Mit  hor  on  firo.  For  a  few  minutes  every  thing  ap|i(iamd 
to  fkvour  this  doaign.and  tho  I'^mcx  hod  drilwd  within  muaket- 
■hot  of  tho  beach,  when  the  wind  »uddenty  shifted  from  the 
land,  paying  tho  ithip'*  head  broad  oil",  in  a  way  to  leave  hor 
MpcNtcd  to  a  drcadl'ul  niking  lire.  Still,  bn  nho  wna  again 
cloaing  with  the  Fhiubc,  Captain  Porter  indulged  a  hop^  of 
finally  laying  that  ship  aboard.  At  this  inomtnt,  Lieutenant 
Commandant  Downes  came  on  board  of  tbs  Essex,  in  order  to 
receive  the  onlors  of  his  commanding  officer,  having  piilled 
through  all  the  iiro  in  order  to  elfect  this  object,  lie  could  be 
of  no  use,  for  tho  enemy  again  put  his  helm  up,  and  kept 
•way,  when  Mr.  Downes,  afler  remaining  in  the  Eaaex  ten 
minutes,  was  directed  to  return  to  his  own  ship,  and  to  make 
preparations  to  defend,  or,  at  need,  to  destroy  her.  On  going 
away,  ho  tatiied  off  several  of  the  Vjutox'tt  wounded,  Uxkving 
three  of  his  own  men  behind  him,  in  order  (o  tnako  room  ie 
the  boat. 

The  slaughter  in  tho  Essex  having  got  to  be  horriblo,  tho 
enemy  firing  with  deliberation,  and  hulling  her  at  almoet  every 
•hot,  Captam  I*orter,  ns  «  lust  resort,  ordered  a  hawser  to  be 
bent  to  the  shtvt-nnchor,  and  ihf^  Intttjr  let  go,  in  order  to  bring 
the  head  of  tho  ship  round.  Thia  effijcted  the  object,  and  onco 
more  the  Americana  got  their  broadside  to  bear,  remainiog 
•tationar^  themselves,  while  their  enemy,  a  good  deal  crippled, 
was  drifting  slowly  to  leeward.  Even  in  thii'se  desperate  cir- 
cumstances, a  ray  of  hope  glenirned  through  this  littlfj  advantage, 
and  Captain  Porter  was  b(>ginning  to  boUove  thai  the  Phuebe 
would  drill  out  of  gun-shot,  bofotre  she  discovered  his  expedient, 
when  tho  hawser  parted  with  tho  strain. 

There  was  no  longer  any  chance  of  saving  the  ship.  To 
add  to  her  distress,  she  was  on  tire,  tho  flames  coming  up  both 
tho  main  and  forward  hatchways ;  and  for  a  few  minutes  it 
was  thought  she  must  consume.  An  exp)osion  of  powder  also 
occurred  below,  to  add  to  the  horrors  of  the  scene,  and  Captain 
Porter  told  his  people,  that  in  preference  to  being  blown  up, 
all  who  chose  to  incur  tho  risk,  might  make  the  attempt  to 
reach  the  shore  by  swimming.  Many  availed  themselves  of 
the  permission,  and  some  succeeded  in  effecting  their  escape. 
Others  perished,  while  a  few,  afler  drilling  about  on  bits  of 


MMMMSMfii 


(1114. 


llli] 


NAVAL    HIITORY. 


•i97 


•pari,  wore  pickfld  4p  by  Iho  bnala  of  the  rmmiy.  Much  tho 
urutttvr  pArt  uf  tho  ori:w,  itowcvor,  n-nwiiMMi  in  tho  thip,  mud 
Uiny  Mil  nUnit  an  ntbtiiMtl  to  oxtinuuiah  tho  flnrmii ;  th««  ahol  uf 
thn  vn«i<ny  comniittitiK  it*  hnv(k«  Uw  whuK'  tiimn  FortiiimUtly, 
thi-  lirt;  WAN  gut  uudvr, whtn  thu  fuw  bra^u  tncnwhu  weMlot), 
wont  Hgiiin  to  tho  t<mg  guim. 

Thu  iiK>rm;iit  had  now  arrived,  when  Cuptain  I'orU'r  wm  to 
doricit)  lMitw()«n  iiubmiMion  «>r  th«i  <k!»'truct»iin  of  lito  rcinaindor 
ufhi!*  |RwtpU).  In  thn  inidnt  ut'thii*  m-enc  of  glau^lilor,  Iw)  hr.d 
hiniKoir  Uitrn  •i:;touch<>d,  nnd  it  htouIiI  mm  that  hi  Mi  hinw^lf 
cnilcii  UI1  lu  ntttut  u  long  aa  hin  own  Mtmigth  hIIowchI.  Hut 
hia  n^inftining  iwoplc  cntn-Atod  him  to  retnenibor  bin  woundvd 
and  Ito  at  Init  conwntrd  to  summon  hi«  cilitTra.  Only  one 
Acting  Lioutrnant  M'Kntglit,  could  bin  him  on  thu  (|uartnr 
dceit  I  'V\m  tiraf  iiouteuaut,  Mr.  VVihiwr,  had  b»?rn  knockoa 
ovefboanj  by  a  gpiinior,  and  dnjwiuxl,  while  getting  the  nhool- 
ahchor  Irorn  the  Dowa ;  Acting  Ltautenant  Cowell,  thn  nuxt  ia 
rank,  wa«  morlaliy  wounded  ;  Actiittf  Lieutenant  Odonhcimor 
had  just  been  knocked  ovcrbo"  d  from  the  quarter,  and  did 
not  regain  the  vnnael  for  imvemi  minuttHi.  Th«5  rejiorln  of  the 
atate  of  th«3  »hip  were  ftiirful.  A  largo  portion  of  tho  guiw 
wero  dtaabled,  even  had  thtire  been  men  left  to  fight  thorn. 
The  brrth-deqk,  ateerage,  ward-room,  and  rxxk-pit,  were  ftill 
of  wounded ;  and  tho  latter  were  even  killed  by  ahot  while 
under  tho  iii<rgtH)n'a  handa.  Thu  carpenter  wna  aent  for,  and 
he  atated  thot  of  hia  crow,  he  alone  could  pcrfijrm  any  duty. 
He  had  been  ovof  tl«e  aide  to  atop  Hhot-hoUw,  when  hi«  slings 
were  cut  away,  and  he  narrowly  eacnpod  drowning.  In  ahort, 
aeventy>fiv«  men,  offioera  included,  were  all  that  remained  for 
duty ;  and  the  enemy,  in  perfectly  smooth  water,  waa  firing  his 
long  eighteen*,  at  n  nearly  unresisting  ship,  with  as  much  pre- 
cision as  he  could  have  discharged  them  at  a  target.  It  had 
become  an  imperative  duty  to  strike,  and  the  colours  were  ac- 
cordingly hauled  down,  after  one  of  the  most  remarkable  com* 
bttta  that  ia  to  bo  found  in  tho  history  of  naval  warfare. 

In  this  bloody  contest,  the  Eaaex  had  5B  men  killed,  in- 
cluding those  who  soon  died  of  their  huris,  and  66  woimded  ; 
making  a  total  of  1V4,  or  nearly  half  of  all  who  were  on  board 
at  the  oommencemont  of  the  action.  Of  the  missing  there 
were  81,  most  of  whom  were  probably  drowned,  either  in  at- 
tempting to  swim  ashore,  wlien  the  ship  waa  on  fire,  or  by 
being  knocked  overboard  by  the  splinters,  or  pioces  oi  the 


MmMii 


Mii 


NATAL    HIITOMf. 


(IU4 


riffging.     Tnrluding  lh«  miMing,  Iho  oiilira  Iom  wm  1A9,  out 

Th«  I'lwri,  with  ■  vary  Irirting  rxraptiun  whtio  cluaing, 
fought  tlii*  Imtllt)  with  her  aii  lung  (wctvca,  oppuwid  by  (ilU«u 
long  c'lglilf*'!!*  ill  bru«Jiii«lu,*  IIhi  long  guna  of  tti«i  Ch«rub, 
•mi.  It  g<NHl  (liml  oniKi  liiitt',  or  whilo  ih«iv  lay  un  h(>r  ({uarttT, 
by  llin  (iirMiindua  ol'  both  llin  viwiny'*  ■ni|Ni.     C'n|)tiuii  llill* 

fnr't  iHiblubuil  ollli-iitl  liitlur  iimkitu  tho  lou  of  Iho  l*huilMi  4 
iiiwi  Biwl  7  wouiiiJctdi  Ihal  of  (ho  ('livrub,  1  kilUni  iiiid  :i 
wuuntlod.  Th«ru  ii  no  apparunt  maaun  fur  diatruating  thia 
aocouiu,  aa  (.'aptaiii  Ilillvur'M  utncial  lultor  waa  ninKularlv 
tniNJivt  uikI  juat.  Caplaiii  rucknr,  ul'  tlt«  ( 'iK)rub,w<iM  wodiiiUil, 
and  Iho  lirat  liituUnmiit  ul'  lh«  l'h<itli«  wna  killud.  Tlwt  l-',iii{iiMh 
■hi(Ni  wore  cut  up  murt)  than  cuul<l  hnvo  ba«'n  i)X|K<«;ti'd  uiiik^r 
Um  drcumatancua,  tho  latter  having  rconivod  mi  U^a  than 
oighitwn  twclvo-pound  ahot  bnlow  tho  wator'liiMt.  It  wuuld 
Mont  that  thfl  irnuothnoM  of  tho  watur  randerod  thu  lire  very 
certain,  on  both  aidoa,  and  it  ia  only  lu  bn  rugnilM-d  that  tho 
Kaaox  could  nut  havo  imgagrd  undor  hur  thrro  to|)aail«,  from 
th«  i'oinmoncomcnt.  The  ongng«mont  laatod  nearly  two  houni 
■ltd  a  half,  tho  long  guna  o(  thu  I'mbx,  it  ia  aaid,  hnving  buen 
flred  no  Iom  than  auvr>nty-Avo  tiniM  oach,  in  broadaitk.  Tho 
vnoiny  muat  have  ihniwn,  agrooably  to  tha  alati^iiHinta  mado 
at  tliu  time,  not  loaa  than  7UU  oightofln-|H>und  ihut,  at  tho 
Eaaox. 

Tho  battle  waa  wilneaaed  by  thouaanda  from  tho  ahore ;  and 
■0  near  were  all  the  ahipa  to  tho  land,  that,  at  one  time,  inanpr 
of  tho  Fhdstm'a  «ijghti-«in>pr3und  ahot  atruck  tho  beach.  Thia 
Act  appoara  to  bo  well  authcolic^ited,  and,  of  ilaolf,  it  aottloa 
the  qunation  of  a  violation  of  tho  neutrality  of  Chili ;  ainco 
even  thoy  who  maintain  tho  doctrine  that  juriadictiun  doca  not 
properly  extend  three  loaguea  to  ao«,  aulwtituto  the  grc/ttcat 
range  of  a  ahot,  or  a  aholl,  in  their  place.  During  tho  action, 
Mr,  l*oinaett,  thu  American  conaul,  repaired  to  tho  govcrnor'a 
and  aaked  tho  protection  of  tho  batten^a  in  bt;hnlf  of  tho  Ea- 
aox.  Ho  rocoivcd  tho  ovaaivo  anawcr,  that,  ahould  tho  ahip 
Bucooed  in  reaching  tho  ordinary  anchom|{o,  an  ofticer  would 
be  aent  to  tho  Britiah  commander,  roqu(<«ting  him  to  cooae  his 
ftre.    The  governor,  howovtir,  declined  reaorting  to  force,  un- 

•  It  ha*  batn  miIiI  that  tha  Ph<alM  moantad  but  96  knig  eighlaena,  bar 
uppar.<i«ck  long  funi  hivlnt  b'?i  twvlvaa.  Wa  hava  toUowod  (^apUin 
rnrt«r**  aeo»unt,  thouf  h  tha  tSiflbraiiPa,  undar  iha  pe«uU«r  eircumitancaa, 
waa  of  no  yinat  iiiotncnl. 


*.»..• 


xnliM 


(1IJ4 
M  15'J,  out 

iiln  cluaing, 
«1  by  tilUicu 
hn  Chorub, 
ht'r  (|uarl(!r, 
•  |ltHIII  llil.l« 
10  I'IiuiImi  4 
iIUkJ  mid  •) 
rualing  tbii 
■intiularlv 

IN  WUdlKlttI, 

'Iwi  Kii){liNh 
M;lcil  (iixhtr 
)  li^a  thnn 

It    Mruulil 

fio  lire  very 
III  Umt  tho 
IwaiU,  frurit 
y  two  houn 
iflving  bi«n 
l«itio.  Thfl 
iHints  nmdti 
iliot,  at  tho 

Rhoro;  and 
time,  inany 
nch.  Thii 
>ir,  it  loltloii 
Jhili ;  iiinco 
iiiii  doea  not 
he  gr(>/itc8t 
[  ttiu  action, 
govcrnor'ii 
'  of  tho  Ba- 
ld tho  ahip 
[Ticer  would 
to  ceaae  hia 
o  force,  un« 

sighiMna,  bar 
aw«d  Captain 
ircumitancaa, 


1114.1 


IIAYAL    MliTOHV, 


yt)9 


def  any  <>ircum»tan.ra.  Thia  wndm-l  left  no  doubt  of  a  ro|. 
luamn  l»l*mi  tlw  l'"ii>tl««b  ■■«f5«'«ra  and  *l»"  l"*«'  auihorilwa, 
•ml  Mr.  Poinaett  lin.k  ili-  tu  .i  .-raaion  to  «iuit  th«  country. 

In  thi'  iixmI.<  in  whuli  li"  tiMttfht  hia  ahip,  ihounh  it  waa  mueh 
criliiia«'d  nl  th«i  liii»>,  ('a|.tnin  IliHynr  dia<ovt'n»il  a.>nnmnahi|» 
Mid  a  atriit  atUiition  ti.  hia  duty  i  l.ut  hia  aitiialion  muat  have 
bcwn  in  the  laat  deurwi  |«mrul,  whili-  r«im|v.'ll.d  lo avoid  nitsH- 
ina  lb*  E««ex  •ing'y'  "'••'•"  cirrunwtantua  that  admit  ol  no 
otCr  i.lauaiblfl  .onatruclu>n  than  so  obcdienco  to  tho  niott 

riuiii  iifili'ra.  ,  .  „ 

{'iii.inin  I'orlir  now  rnli-rwl  into  an  arranpMwnt  with  rap- 
tain  llillyor,  unti'r  llwi  itroviaiona  of  whiih,  tho  l'*a»'X  Junior 
woa  convt^rted  into  a  cartel,  nnd  a  jMaajKirl  waa  nivtsn,  by 
mcnna  of  which  all  the  aurvivora  ol  tho  Kaa.<K  came  honw. 
From  thia  nrrangcnHnt, however,  Acting  Lieutenant  M  Kninht, 
Mr,  Adnnia,  'ho  chnplnin,  ond  Mr.  Lyman,  a  maatei  a  male, 
wcro  eiiinpUd  ;  th«a.i  Ihrf^i  m«ntlunwn,  and  eleven  aeamen, 
bnins  oxrhangcd  on  the  apot,  lor  a  part  of  the  |»e«pl«  of  th« 
Sir  Andrtiw  Hammond,  who  wcro  then  priaoncra  in  the  I-^ex 
Junior.  Mr.  M'Knijrht  nnd  Mr.  Lyman  went  round  to  Rio  d© 
Janeiro,  in  the  l'h«Bbi  ii  order  to  give  aome  tratimony  m  b«s- 
holf  of  tho  cantora.  Wo  ahall  have  occaaion  to  advert  to  tho 
two  laat  Itcrcoikr. 

The  I'laaex  Junior  left  Valparaiao  ahortl^  after  thia  arrange- 
ment, encountering  no  difficulty  in  doubling  the  Horn.  Hha 
waa  br«ught.to,  off  New  York,  by  tl»e  8aturn  raa^,  taDlam 
Naah.  Thia  officer  qucationed  the  authority  of  Captam  Hill- 
yar  to  grant  the  paaa|H)rt,  under  which  the  Eaacx  Junior  waa 
Bailing,  and  ho  dirwtcd  that  ahip  to  lie  by  him  during  the 
night.  After  aome  communicationa,  the  next  morning,  when 
thirty  milea  from  ihe  beach.  Captain  Porter  put  off  in  a  whalo- 
boat,  and,  though  choacd,  by  pulling  vigoroualy  for  the  land, 
he  got  nahore  on  Long  laland,  eacajiing  in  a  fog.  It  doea  not 
oppear,  however,  to  have  been  tho  intention  of  Captain  Naah 
acrioualy  to  detain  the  Eaaex  Junior,  He  prf>Uibly  diatruateil 
■omc  artifice,  aa  ho  permitted  the  ahip  to  proceed,  after  again 
examining  her  papera.  .    ,      ,  i      u 

Thua  terminated  thia  cnterpHaing  and  aingular  cruiac,  «• 
end  proving  as  diaastrous  a»  ita  commencement  had  been  for- 
tunate, though  it  waa,  at  all  times,  highly  ctwlitable  to  the 
■pirit,  rcaourcea,  aelf-roliance,  and  zeal  of  thoae  en(|ag«d  in  it. 
Before  quitting  the  subject,  however,  it  remains  to  give  «  hrief 
occo'"-'.  ol'  tho  fortunes  of  the  officers  and  men  left  at  Nooa- 


300 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[ISI4. 


hecvah,  with  th(3  llucc  prizes,  tho  Greenwich,  the  Sir  Andrew 
Hammond,  nnd  tlic  Scringnpatam,  under  the  orders  of  Lieu- 
tenant Gnmliie  of  the  marincn. 

The  Essex  had  no  sooner  disappeared  than  the  savages  be- 
gan to  pilfer,  and  to  l)otray  a  turbulent  disposition.  Mr.  Gam- 
ble was  coni|)cllcd  to  lund  a  party,  and  to  bring  the  natives  to 
terms  by  a  show  of  force,  l-'orlunatoly  this  object  was  effected 
without  firing  u  musket.  In  February,  one  of  the  small  party 
left  was  drowned,  reducing  their  number  to  twenty-two,  the 
officers  included.  Not  long  after  this  event,  four  of  the  men 
deserted  in  a  whale-bout,  carrying  oiF  with  them  several  small 
articles  of  value.     But  eighteen  now  remained. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  Mr.  Gamble  begun  to  rig  the  Seringa- 
patam  and  the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  with  the  intention  of 
quitting  the  islands,  the  long  absence  of  the  Essex  inducing 
him  to  despair  of  her  return.  Some  symptoms  of  a  mutiny- 
now  began  to  show  themselves,  and  he  had  all  tho  arms  and 
ammunition  brought  on  board  the  Greenwich,  in  which  vessel 
he  lived ,-  but  having  occasion  to  be  on  board  the  Seringapa- 
tarn,  on  the  7th  of  May,  a  party  of  six  men  rose,  and  took  tho 
ship  from  him.  During  the  time  Mr.  Gamble  was  in  the  hands 
of  these  men,  he  was  badly  wounded  in  the  foot  by  a  pistol- 
ball,  and  they  succeeded  in  carrying  off*  the  Seringapatam, 
sending  the  officer,  and  the  people  with  him,  on  boara  another 
vessel. 

Every  exertion  was  made  to  get  to  sea  with  the  Sir  Andrew 
Hammond,  but  on  the  0th,  the  natives  made  an  attack,  and 
Mr.  Feltus,  with  three  men,  was  killed,  and  one  other  was  se- 
verely wounded.  The  situation  of  those  that  remained,  now 
became  exceedingly  critical,  the  whole  party  consisting  of  only 
eight  individuals,  of  whom  two  were  badly  wounded,  one  was 
a  cripple,  and  another  was  just  recovering  from  a  serious  at- 
tack of  the  scurvy.  In  fact,  there  were  but  four  men  on  board 
the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond  (it  for  duty.  The  jib  and  spanker 
were  bent  as  fast  as  possible,  the  moorings  were  cut,  and,  un- 
der that  short  sail,  the  ship  passed  slowly  out  to  sea,  under 
cover  of  the  night.  When  safe  in  the  offing,  but  six  cartridges 
were  left,  the  Seringapatam  having  carried  off  most  of  the 
ammunition  in  kegs. 

To  add  to  the  difficulties  of  his  situation,  Mr.  Gamble  had 
no  chart.  He  made  out  to  reach  the  Sandwich  Islands,  how- 
ever, in  seventeen  days,  where  he  was  captured  by  the  Cherub, 
ond  first  learned  the  fate  of  the  Essex.    The  Americans  con- 


MriM 


[1614. 

10  Sir  Andrew 
ders  of  Lieu- 

0  savages  bo* 
a.  Mr.  Gam- 
the  natives  to 
ct  wns  cfFocted 
ic  small  party 
ircnty-two,  the 
jr  of  the  men 
several  small 

g  the  Seringa- 

1  intention  of 
issex  inducing 
I  of  a  mutiny 
the  arms  and 
which  vessel 

lie  Seringapa- 
I,  and  took  the 
IS  in  the  hands 
)t  by  a  pistol* 
Seringapatam, 
board  another 

le  Sir  Andrew 
n  attack,  and 
other  was  se- 
emained,  now 
listing  of  only 
ided,  one  was 
a  serious  at- 
men  on  board 
)  and  spanker 
cut,  and,  un- 
to sea,  under 
six  cartridges 
'  most  of  the 

,  Gamble  had 
Islands,  how- 
y  the  Cherub, 
lericans  cob- 


1813.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


301 


tinucd  seven  months  in  this  «hip,  until  they  were  landed  ot 
Rio  de  Janeiro,  from  which  port  Mr.  Gamble  got  to  New  York, 
late  in  August,  1816. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

It  has  been  seen,  that  the  declarationof  war  found  the  naval 
preparations  in  so  imperfect  a  condition,  that  the  ConsteUaUon 
38,^hesapeake  38,  ind  Adams  28,  were  not  re-^dy  «;^«  « 

receive  crews,  while  it  was  ^"nd  "^^^7 '^f^i^'^^o'^^'S 
the  New  York  36,  Boston  28,  and  General  Greene  28.     ine 
appreprltions  for  Ihe  repairs  of  the  three  Irst  sh.p.  havmg  been 
i  in  Mareh,  1812,  the  Constellation  was  «^uipped  and 
manned  at  Washington,  in  the  course  of  the  season.     When 
Som^dore  Bainbrtdge'left  her  for  the  ConstJ"t.on,  the  com- 
mandof  this  ship  had  been  given  to  Captam  Stewart,  the  offi- 
Sr  who  had  seiVed  as  second  in  command  under  Commodore 
PreWe,  during  most  of  the  operaUons  of  that  <»'ebrated  cap- 
tain,  before  Tripoli.    In  the  course  of  the  month  of  Janua^^, 
1818,  Captain  Stewart  dropH  down  the  nver  with  an  mton- 
liont^g^to««,but  on  reaching  St.  Mary's,  an  order  wa. 
receive!,  that  induced  him  to  go  to  Aimapdis,  m  order  to 
SS'his  powder.    From  this  pla<»,  the -h'P  *"  ^jr^J^ 
to  proceed  to^orfolk.    In  executing  this  order,  the  Co"'^''*; 
tioS  anchored  in  Hampton  Roads,  and  the  «»« » «n?™''\?jj^ 

of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  seve.  1  '*?-d«^»'«^-'|;5;'iX7s 
and  sloops  of  war,  came  in  and  anchored  off  Wiloughbys 
Point.  wCre  they  were  becriined.  While  the  English  ships 
were  waiting  fo?  the  turn  of  the  tide,  the  ConsteTlation  was 
kedged  up  unUl  she  grounded  on  the  flats  above ;  and  the  same 
nigSTwhen  she  floated  with  the  tide,  she  was  earned  up,  and 
anchored  between  the  forts  at  Norfolk. 

A  few  days  later,  the  Constellation  dropped  down  abreastof 
Cr«iey  Islid,  with  a  view  to  cover  the  fortifications  then 
erecting  at  that  place.  At  this  time,  the  enemy  was  sUll  lying 
in  force  in  Hampton  Roads.  , 

The  Constellation  was  anchored  in  the  middle  of  the  chan- 
nel, which  is  quite  narrow,  and  on  each  side  of  her  were 
26 


HHI 


303 


NATAL     HISTORY^ 


[isia. 


• 


moored  seven  gun-boats,  on  board  of  which  were  placed  offi- 
cers and  men  belonging  to  the  ship,  A  circle  of  booms, 
securely  fastened,  protected  the  gun-boats  from  being  boarded, 
which  would  enable  them  to  maintain  a  flunking  lire,  on  all 
assailants  of  the  frigate.  The  gun-deck  guns  of  the  latter  were 
housed,  and  the  ports  were  shut  in.  Great  care  was  taken 
that  no  rope  should  be  permitted  to  be  hanging  over  the  side 
of  the  vessel,  the  stern-ladders  were  taken  away,  and  even  the 
gangway-elects  ficn  removed.  Boarding-nettings  were  made 
of  twenty -one  thread  ratlin-stuff,  that  had  been  boiled  in  half- 
made  pitch,  which  rendered  it  so  hard  as  olniost  to  defy  the 
knife.  To  give  greater  strength,  nail  rods  and  small  chains 
were  secured  to  the  netting  in  lines  about  three  feet  apart.  In- 
stead  of  tricing  to  the  rigging,  this  netting  was  spread  out- 
board, towards  the  yard-arms,  rising  about  twenty-five  feet 
above  the  deck.  To  the  outer  rope  or  ridge-line  of  the  netting, 
were  secured  pieces  of  kentledge,  that  by  cutting  the  tricing 
lines  when  the  enemy  should  get  alongside,  his  boats  and  men 
might  be  caught  beneath.  Pieces  of  kentledge  were  also  sus- 
pended forward,  from  the  spritsail-yard,  bowsprit,  &c.  &c.,  to 
Erevent  boats  from  lying  under  them,  while  the  netting  was 
ere  hoisted  to  the  fore  stay.  The  carronadcs  were  charged  to 
the  muzzles  with  musket-balls,  and  depressed  to  the  nearest 
range,  in  order  to  sweep  around  the  ship.  As  the  frigate  was 
light,  and  unusually  high  out  of  the  water,  it  was  the  opinion 
of  the  best  judges,  that  defended  as  she  would  certainly  have 
been,  under  the  officers  who  were  in  her,  she  could  not  have 
been  carried  without  a  loss  of  several  hundred  men  to  the  ene- 
my, if  she  could  have  been  taken  by  boats  at  all. 

It  would  appear,  notwithstanding,  that  the  enemy  was  dis- 
posed to  make  the  attempt.  A  large  force  of  British  ships 
having  collected  in  the  Roads,  the  admirals  in  command  seri- 
ously contemplated  an  assault  on  the  Constellation.  Fortu- 
nately, Captain  Stevrart  received  notice  of  their  intentions.  A 
Portugese  had  been  stopped  by  the  fleet,  on  his  way  to  sea, 
and  his  ship  was  anchored  at  tliie  upper,  part  of  the  Roads,  just 
out  of  gun-shot  of  the  frigate.  On  board  of  this  vessel,  the 
Admiral  kept  a  guard  and  a  look-out,  to  signal  the  movements 
above.  An  American  passeneer,  on  board  the  Portuguese, 
learned  from  the  conversation  of  different  officers,  their  designs 
on  the  Constellation,  and  he  found  means  to  oel  on  board  the 
frigate  in  order  to  apprise  her  commander  of  the  enemy's  plan, 
handsomely  volunteering  to  remain  in  the  ship  to  help  defend 


/ 

ttm* 


mmtmi 


mM 


JLm 


[1313. 

3  placed  offi" 
c  of  booms, 
ling  boarded, 
b;  lire,  on  all 
10  latter  were 
ro  was  taken 
over  the  side 
ond  even  the 
;s  were  made 
oiled  in  half* 

to  defy  the 
small  chains 
it  apart.  In- 
spread  out- 
;nty-fivo  feet 
>f  the  netting, 
;  the  tricing 
>at8  and  men 
ere  also  sus- 

&c.  &c.,  to 
)  netting  was 
re  charged  to 

the  nearest 
B  frigate  was 
I  the  opinion 
)rtainly  have 
uld  not  have 
n  to  the  ene- 
my was  dis* 
British  ships 
mmand  seri- 
ion.  Fortu- 
itentions.    A 

way  to  sea, 
3  Roads,  just 
is  vessel,  the 
3  movements 

Portuguese, 
their  dasigns 
on  board  the 
lemy's  plan, 

help  defend 


1S13.1 


NAVAL    HIBTORT. 


303 


her.*    Of  course  the  guard-boats  were  enjoined  to  bo  more 
than  usually  vigilant,  and  every  thing  was  got  reody  to  receive 

the  enemy.  ,.  . .       j      .u:.,- 

The  night  succeeding  the  notice  was  starlight,  and  nothing 
was  attempted.  The  next  morning,  the  master  of  the  Portu- 
ffuesc  stopped  alongside  of  the  frlaate,  on  his  way  to  Norfolk, 
and  stated  that  a  largo  number  of  boats  had  collected  ot  his 
ship  the  previous  evening,  but  that  the  expedition  had  been 
deferred  until  that  night,  which  promised  to  be  dark  and  driz- 
zling Accordingly  the  guard-boat  was  on  the  look-out,  and 
it  fell  in  with  a  division  of  boats,  that  was  supposed  to  contain 
from  1 500  to  2000  men.  As  soon  as  the  enemy  was  seen,  the 
officer  in  the  boat  showed  two  lanterns  on  the  off-side  of  his 
cutter,  and  all  hands  were  called  in  the  ship.  It  would  seem 
the  enemy  ascertained  that  his  opproach  was  discovered,  and 

heretiied.  .      .,.    .. 

The  following  eight,  the  attempt  was  renewed,  with  the 
same  want  of  success.  A  few  niglite  later,  it  again  proved 
dark  and  drizzling,  and  a  third  expedition  came  up.  On  this 
occasion,  Mr.  B.  J.  Neale,  the  second  lieutenant  of  the  Con- 
stellation,  was  in  the  guard-boat,  and  he  edged  close  in  with 
the  enemy,  who  discovered  him.  As  soon  as  the  word  of  a 
stranger,"  was  given,  the  people  of  the  cutter  sprang  to  their 
oars,  and  pulled  out  of  sight ;  but  finding  he  was  not  puraued, 
Mr.  Neale  returned  and  kept  company  with  the  brigade  of 
boats,  which  passed  up  on  the  inside  of  the  flats,  above  the 
mouth  of  Tanner's  creek,  and  anchored  at  no  great  distance 
below  the  forts.  Here  many  of  the  officers  landed  and  walked 
about  to  keep  themselves  warm,  the  guard-boat  anchoring  also. 
When  the  ebb  tide  made,  the  brigade  returned,  the  Ckjristella- 
tion's  boat  quitting  them  only  when  they  had  got  below  the 
frigate. 

Shortly  after,  the  fortifications  being  sufficiently  advanced, 
and  block  skips  being  ready  for  sinking  in  the  channel,  the 
Constellation  was  carried  up  again  to  a  place  of  security. 
About  this  time  Captain  Stewart  was  transferred  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Constitution  44,  and  Captain  TatbcU  received  a 
temporary  appointment  to  the  Constellation,  though,  the  enemy 

•Thenuneof  thb  gaiUeman  dewrrasto  be  honoanUy  mentioMd. 
ItwMiMr.FraiicbMtrob,pfthsiiiMOMitfle«nB<»f  J.  HowMd,BlMcli 
ftOmoTBIadiinu 


304 


NAVAL   HISTORY. 


[isia. 


always  maintaining  a  strong  force  in  the  waters  of  tho  Chesa- 
peake, the  ship  continued  to  bo  blockaded  until  tho  |X!ace. 

The  Chesapeake,  lying  at  Boston,  had  less  difficultv  in  get- 
ting to  sea,  for  the  enemy  did  not  keep  any  force  helon  that 
port,  during  the  first  few  months  of  the  war ;  most  probably 
under  the  false  impression  that  such  was  the  disaffection  of  the 
eastern  states,  that  it  would  virtually  be  annoying  friends. 
She  sailed  at  the  close  of  February,  1813,  under  tho  orders  of 
Captain  Evans,  and  passing  by  tho  Canary  Isles  and  the  Cape 
de  Verds,  she  crossed  the  equator,  and  remained  for  six  weeks 
near  the  line.  She  then  made  the  coast  of  South  America, 
passed  the  spot  where  the  Hornet  sunk  the  Peacock,  the  day 
after  that  action  had  occurred,  and  went  through  the  West- 
Indies,  and  along  the  American  coa<it,  to  the  port  from  which 
she  had  sailed.  During  this  long  run,  Captr  Evans  saw  but 
three  men-of-war,  a  ship  of  the  line  and  a  gate,  near  the 
Western  Islands,  and  a  sloop  of  war,  ofTthoCupes  of  Virginia. 
The  latter  escaped  in  the  night,  afler  a  chase  of  two  days. 
The  Chesapeakecapturedfour  merchant  vessels. 

Captain  Evans  gave  up  the  command  of  his  ship  on  his  re- 
turn, on  account  of  ill  health,  and  was  succeeded  by  Captain 
James  Lawrence. 

By  this  time,  the  enemy  had  changed  his  policy  as  regards 
the  eastern  states,  and  he  kept  a  few  fVigates  in  the  vicinity  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  with  a  view  to  intercept  the  American 
ships  of  war  that  passed  in  and  out.  Two  of  these  cruisers, 
the  Shannon  38,  and  Tenedos  88,  had  been  off  Boston,  it  was 
said,  in  waiting  for  the  President  44,  and  Congress  88  to  come 
out,  but  thbse  ships  had  sailed  without  encountering  them,  and 
it  was  by  no  means  probable  that  the  English  seriously  wished 
a  meeting.  When  it  was  understood,  however,  that  the  Chesa- 
peake was  '^ady  to  sail,  the  Shannon,  Captain  Broke,  appeared 
alone  in  the  oning,  and  as  the  ships  were  fairly  matched,  a 
combat  appeared  much  more  probable.  It  is  now  known,  that 
Captain  Broke,  that  very  day,  sent  in  an  invitation  to  Captain 
Lawr<3nce,  to  meet  him  in  any  latitude  and  longitude  thav 
might  be  agreed  on.  Unfortunately,  this  letter  was  not  writ 
ten  until  about  the  moment  the  Chesapeake  was  getting  under 
way,  and  the  advantage  of  having  ofRcers  and  men  accustomed 
to  act  a  little  together,  was  lost.  The  Chesapeake's  contem- 
plated cruise  was  to  the  northward  and  eastward;  with  a  view 
to  intercept  the  store-shim  and  troop-ships  that  were  steerins 
for  the  St.  Lawrence.    The  Hornet  18,  Captain  Biddle,  had 


»mmmimmm<mma.ii 


iniin<i«i|i»nii!i.*.iuiii'iil*i 


eMMWMMWlMMiiiiMHtlliHB 


[1S18. 

r  tho  Chesa- 
I  peace. 
:ultY  in  get- 
before  that 
St  probably 
iction  of  the 
ing  friends. 
be  orders  of 
nd  the  Ca 


)r  SIX  weeks 
th  America, 
ick,  the  day 
1  the  West- 
from  which 
ans  saw  but 
te,  near  the 
of  Virginia. 
r  two  days. 

p  on  his  re* 
by  Captain 

r  as  re^rds 
e  vicinitv  of 
e  American 
«e  cruisers, 
wton,  it  was 

36  to  come 
g  them,  and 
usiy  wished 
ttheChesa- 
ie,  appeared 

matched,  a 
known,  that 
a  to  Captain 
igitude  that 
as  not  writ 
stting  under 
accustomed 
e's  contem* 
with  a  view 
ere  steering 
Biddle,  had 


1813.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY 


305 


been  put  under  the  orders  of  Captnin  Lawrence,  and  it  was 
intended  thnt  tho  two  ships  should  cruise  in  company.  The 
Greenland  whale-fishery  was  tho  ultimate  object  of  these 
vessels. 

In  tho  forenoon  of  June  1st,  1613,  tho  Shannon  appeared  in 
the  bay.  The  Chesapeake  was  then  lying  in  President  Roads, 
ready  for  scu ;  though  some  disaffection  existed  among  the 
crew,  on  accoimt  of  tho  prize-money  of  tho  last  cruise,  which 
was  still  unpaid.  The  ship  had  an  unusual  number  of  merce- 
naries in  her ;  and  among  others,  was  a  boatswain's  mate,  a 
Portuguese,  who  was  found  to  be  particularly  troublesome. 
Under  tho  extraordinary  circumstances  in  which  the  vessel 
was  placed,  it  wos  thousht  prudent  to  tcmporiHC,  and  tho  peo- 
ple were  addressed,  and  some  promises  were  made  to  them, 
which  apparently  had  the  effect  of  putting  them  in  a  bettor 
humour. 

At  13,  meridian,  the  Chesapeake  lilled  her  anchor,  and  stood 
out,  with  a  pleasant  breeze  from  the  southward  and  westward. 
As  the  Shannon  was  then  in  plain  sight,  the  ship  was  cleared 
for  action,  and  the  best  appearances  were  assumed,  although 
it  is  known  that  Captain  Lawrence  went  into  this  engagement 
with  strong  reluctance,  on  account  of  the  peculiar  state  of  his 
crew.  He  had  himself  only  joined  the  vessel  a  few  days  be- 
fore; her  proper  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  O.  A.  Page,  of  Virginia, 
an  officer  of  experience,  was  ill  on  shore,  and  died  soon  af\er, 
in  Boston ;  the  acting  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Augustus  Ludlow, 
of  New  York,  though  an  officer  of  merit,  was  a  very  young 
man.  and  was  in  an  entirely  novel  situation ;  and  there  was  but 
one  other  commissioned  sea-ofllicer  in  the  ship,  two  of  the  mid- 
shipmen acting  as  third  and  fourth  lieutenants,  and  now  per- 
forming this  duty  for  the  first  time.  One,  if  not  both  of  these 
youne  gentlemen,  had  also  just  joined  the  ship,  following  t|ie 
captain  from  the  Hornet.  In  addition,  the  Chesapeake  had  an 
unusual  number  of  landsmen  in  her. 

The  Shannon  stood  off  under  easy  sail,  when  Captain  Law- 
rence fireu  n  gun,  about  half-past  4,  which  induced  her  to  heave 
to,  with  her  head  to  the  southward  and  eastward.  By  this 
time  the  wind  had  freshened,  aiid  at  6,  the  Chesapeake  took  in 
her  royals  and  topgallant-sails,  and  half  an  hour  later,  she 
hauled  up  her  courses.  The  two  ships  were  now  about  30 
miles  from  the  light,  the  Shannon  under  single-reefed  topsails 
and  jib,  and  the  Chesapeake  under  her  whole  topsails  and  jib, 
coming  down  fast.  As  the  Shannon  was  running  with  the 
26*  26 


iilliiNMMiiiiiilliiaiii^^ 


306 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[1613. 


wind  a  littlo  free,  there  wo*  on  anxious  moment  on  board 
of  her,  during  which  it  was  uncertain  on  which  side  tl»o  Chesa- 
peake was  obout  to  clo«e,  or  whether  she  might  not  be  disposed 
to  commence  the  action  on  her  quarter.     But  Captain  Law- 
rencc  chose  to  lay  his  enemy  fairly  olongsidc,  yurd-arm  and 
yard-arm ;  and  he  lutfed,  and  ranged  up  ubeum,  on  the  Shan- 
non's starboard  side.     When  tb-j  Chesapeake's  foremast  was 
in  a  lino  with  the  Shannon's  mizzen-mast,  the  latter  ship  dis- 
charged her  cabin  guns,  and  the  others  in  succession,  from  aft 
forward.    The  Chesapeake  did  not  fire  until  all  her  guns  bore, 
when  she  delivered  a  very  destructive  broadside.     For  six  or 
eight  minutes  the  cannonading  was  fierce,  and  the  best  of  the 
action,  so  far  as  the  ^neral  effect  of  the  fire  was  concerned,  is 
said  to  have  been  with  the  American  frigate,  though  it  was 
much  in  favour  of  the  enemy,  in  its  particular  and  accidental 
consequences.     While  passmg  the  Shannon's  broadside,  the 
Chesapeake  had  her  fore-topsail  tie  and  jib  sheet  shot  away. 
Her  spanker-brails  also  were  loosened,  and  the  sail  blew  out. 
These  accidents  occurring  nearly  at  the  same  instant,  they 
brought  the  ship  up  into  the  wind,  when,  taking  aback,  ahe  ^ot 
sternway,  and  fell  aboard  of  the  enemy,  with  her  mizzen-ng- 
ging  foul  of  the  Shannon's  fore-chains.   By  some  accounts,  the 
fluke  of  an  anchor  on  board  the  Shannon  hooked  in  the  rigging 
of  the  Chesapeake.    Whatever  may  have  served  to  keep  the 
ships  together,  it  appears  to  be  certain,  that  the  American  fci- 
gate  lay  exposed  to  a  raking  fire  from  the  enemy,  who  poured 
mto  her  the  contents  of  one  or  two  carronades,  that  neatly 
swept  her  upper  dock.    At  the  few  first  dischar^  of  the  Shan- 
non>  Captain  Lawrence  had  received  a  wound  m  the  leg ;  Mr. 
Broom,  the  marine  officer,  Mr.  Ballard,  the  acting  fourth  lieu- 
tenant, and  the  boatswain,  were  mortally  wounded ;  Mr.  White, 
the  master,  was  killed ;  and  Mr.  Ludlow,  the  first  lieutenant, 
was  twice  wounded  by  grape  and  musketry.     Such  was  the 
state  of  the  upper  deck,  as  the  accidents  mentioned,  brought 
the  vessels  in  contact.     When  Captain  Lawrence  perceived 
that  the  ships  were  likely  to  fall  foul  of  each  other,  he  directed 
the  boarders  to  be  called;  but  unfortunately,  a  bugleman  had 
been  substituted  for  the  drummer,  and  this  man,  a  negro,  was 
so  much  alarmed  at  the  effects  of  the  conflict,  that  he  had 
concealed  himself  under  the  stern  of  the  launch ;  when  found 
he  was  completely  paralysed  by  fear,  and  was  totally  unable 
to  sound  a  note.     Verbal  orders  were  consequently  ■  nt  below, 
by  the  captain's  aids,  for  the  boarders  to  come  on  deck.    At 


ii 


[1813. 

}nt  on  board 
de  tliu  Chusu- 
jt  bo  dispoaed 
'aptuin  Law- 
urd-ann  and 
un  iho  Shan- 
forumoiit  wo» 
itter  ship  dut' 
lion,  from  aA 
er  guns  bore, 
For  six  or 
10  belt  of  the 
concerned,  is 
liough  it  was 
ad  accidental 
•roadside,  the 
ot  shot  away. 
^il  blew  out. 
instant,  they 
iback,  dte  ^ot 
r  mizzen-ng- 
accounts,  the 
in  the  rigging 
id  to  keep  tra 
\inerican  fci* 
r,  who  poured 
9,  that  nearly 
s  of  the  Shan* 
the  leg ;  Mr. 
ig  fourth  lieu- 
i;  Mr.  White, 
rst  lieutenant. 
Such  was  the 
oned,  brought 
nee  perceived 
er,  he  directed 
Higleman  had 
a  negro,  was 
st,  that  he  had 
;  when  found 
totally  unable 
tly  s  nt  below, 
on  deck.    At 


1813.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


307 


this  critical  moment  Captain  Lawrence  fell  with  a  ball  through 
the  body. 

The  upper  dock  was  now  led  without  an  officer  above  the 
rank  of  a  midHhipman.  It  was  the  practico  of  the  service,  in 
that  day,  to  keep  the  arms  of  the  boarders  on  the  quarter-deck, 
and  about  the  masts ;  and  even  when  the  boarders  had  been 
summoned  in  the  slow  and  impertbct  manner  that,  in  the  con- 
fusion of  a  combat,  was  allowed  by  tho  voice,  they  were  with- 
out arms  j  for,  by  this  time,  tho  enemy  was  in  possession  of 
the  Chesapeake's  quarter-deck. 

As  soon  as  the  ships  were  foul.  Captain  Broke  passed  for* 
ward  in  the  Shannon,  and,  to  use  his  own  language,  "  seeing 
that  the  en<^my  were  flinching  from  his  guns,"  he  gave  the  or- 
der to  board.  Finding  that  all  their  officers  had  fallen,  and 
exposed  to  a  raking  lire,  without  tho  means  of  returning  a  shot, 
the  men  on  the  Chesapeake's  quarter-deck  had  indeed  leff  their 
guns.  The  marines  had  suffered  severely,  and  having  lost 
their  officer,  were  undecided  what  to  do,  and  the  entire  upper 
deck  was  leff  virtually  without  any  defence. 

When  tho  enemy  entered  the  ship,  from  his  fore-channels,  it 
was  with  great  caution,  and  so  slowly,  that  twenty  resolute 
men  would  have  repulsed  him.  The  boarders  had  not  yet  ap- 
peared from  below,  and  meeting  with  no  resistance,  he  began 
to  move  forward.  This  critical  moment  lost  the  ship,  for  the 
English,  encouraged  by  the  state  of  the  Chcshpeake's  upper 
deck,  now  rushed  forward  in  numbers,  and  soon  had  entire 
command  above  board.  The  remaining  officers  appeared  on 
dock,  and  endeavoured  to  make  a  rally,  but  it  was  altogether 
too  late,  for  the  boatswain's  mate  mentioned,  had  removed  the 
gratings  of  the  berth-deck,  and  had  run  below,  followed  by  a 
great  many  men.*  Soon  affer,  the  Chesapeake's  colours  were 
hauled  down  by  the  enemy,  who  got  complete  possession  of  the 
ship,  with  very  little  resistance. 

Captain  Broke,  in  his  official  report  of  this  action,  observes 
that  after  he  had  boarded,  "  the  enemy  fought  desperately,  but 
in  disorder."  The  first  part  of  this  statement  is  probably  true, 
as  regards  a  few  gallant  individuals  on  the  upper  deck,  but 
there  was  no  regular  resistance  to  the  boarders  of  the  Shannon 
at  all.  The  people  of  the  Chesapeake  had  not  the  means  to 
resist,  neither  were  they  collected,  cor  commanded  in  the  mode 
in  which  they  had  been  trained  to  act.    The  enemy  fired  down 

*  As  this  man  perfbrmed  this  set  of  trwobery,  bo  is  aM  to  htm  erisd 
oat,  "so  mneh  kt  not  htvinr  poM  tlM  men  tii«r  priaMBoaoj.** 


ma 


IMSMM 


iMMl 


308 


NAVAL     HIITOKV. 


(in* 


tho  hatchM,  •nil  killed  and  wounded  a  gwnl  mnny  nwn,  in  thia 
manner,  but  it  doca  not  apiwar  that  their  lire  waa  rcturnod. 
Although  iho  E  ijliah  loat  a  low  men  when  they  boarded,  it  la 
undontluod  (hat  the  ulnughtar  waa  principally  on  the  aido  of  the 
Americana,  oa  n>i|jht  bo  expoctcti,  ullcr  tho  oauuult  waa  n»ade.» 
Few  naval  battica  have  liflen  more  winguinary  than  Ihia.    It 
laatod  altouuthcr  not  more  than  16  minutea,and  yet  both  ahipa 
wore  charnol-houBoa.    Tho  Cheaapeake  had  48  men  killed, 
and  08  wounded,  a  larae  portion  of  whom  fell  by  the  raking 
firo  of  tho  Shannon,  alTor  the  Cheaapeake  waa  taken  aback, 
and  by  tho  ftro  of  tlw  boarders.     The  Shannon  had  23  kille<l 
»nd  M  wounded,  princiimlly  by  the  Chesapoake'a  broodsidwi. 
It  waa  impoasiblo  for  ahipa  of  that  aizo  to  approach  ao  ncor,  in 
tolerably  amooth  water,  and  to  fire  with  ao  much  Bteodinoaa, 
without  committing  groot  havoo.    On  board  the  Cheaapeake 
fell,  or  died  of  their  wounds  shortly  aller  tho  combot,  (Japtain 
Lawrence,  Lieutenants  Ludlow,  Ballard,  and  Broom,  (of  the 
niarinea,)  Mr.  White,  the  master,  Mr.  Adama,  the  boatswain, 
and  thfoo  midshipmen.    All  but  the  midshiomon,  fell  iKiforo  the 
enemy  boarded.    Mr.  Budd  second,  and  Mr.  CJox  third  lieu- 
tenant, wore  wounded  after  the  enemy  had  get  on  the  Che- 
aapoake'a  docks.    Several  midshipmen  were  also  wounded. 
Tho  Shannon  lost  her  first  lieutenont,  and  one  or  two  inferior 
officers,  andCaptoin  Broke  was  badly  wounded ;  the  boaUwain 
loat  an  arm,  and  one  midahipman  waa  wounded,  mostly  after 
the  boaffding.  .       .    u 

Aa  Boon  aa  the  ahipa  were  clear  of  each  other,  they  both 
made  sail  for  Halifiix,  whore  they  aoon  after  arrived.  Captain 
Lawrence  died  of  his  wounda  on  the  6th  of  June,  and,  with 
Mr.  Ludlow,  waa  buried  by  the  enemy  with  military  honours. 
Perhapa  the  capture  of  no  single  ship  over  produced  so  much 
exultation  on  the  side  of  the  victors,  or  so  much  depression  on 
that  of  the  beaten  porty,  as  that  of  the  Chesapeake.  The 
American  nation  had  fallen  into  the  error  of  their  enemy,  and 
had  begun  to  imagine  themselves  invincible  on  the  ocean,  and 
thia  without  any  better  roaaon  than  having  been  successful  in 

"  •  Ths  ftot  that  »h«  EntUih  met  with  no  reutUnoe  in  coining  on  bmrd 
ths  CbsMipMkt,  is  flilly  oonflrni«d  by  th«  official  wcount  of  Captain  Broke. 
This  oaoar,  who  tmtwt  to  have  Iwhavod  with  groat  perional  nllantry, 
wan  aaKMff  Iha  firtt  to  hoard,  and  ho  laya,  "having  received  a  Mor* 
wound,  al  l*»  Jirt  mutt,  while  charging  a  part  of  the  enemy,  who  had 
rallied  en  <A«i»  fortmiiU,"  &c.  &.O.  Tho  ontmy  camo  in  a$lem,  and  the 
Jirl  MtH  occurring  on  iJie/orfeeatJ*,  it  folbwa  that  there  waa  no  roMit- 
lait 


tin* 

'  ntfin,  in  thia 
aa  ruturnod. 
txMinlcd,  it  ii 
lie  side  of  tho 
,  waa  made.* 
th/ui  this.    It 
rut  both  ahipa 
men  killed, 
>y  tho  raking 
taken  aback, 
hud  23  killed 
a  bfoadaidoa. 
;h  ao  near,  in 
h  atoadincaa, 
i  Cheaapcake 
nbat,  Captain 
■oorn,  (of  the 
10  boatawain, 
fell  before  the 
»  third  lieu* 
;  on  the  Che- 
lao  wounded, 
r  two  inferior 
the  boatawain 
,  moatly  after 

er,  they  b6th 
ved.  Captain 
ine,  and,  with 
Itary  honours, 
luced  80  much 
deprcsaion  on 
apoake.  The 
ir  enemy,  and 
he  ocean,  and 
succesaful  in 

coming  on  board 
)f  CtpUin  Broke, 
inonal  nliantry, 
reoeivM  a  Mbro 
enemy,  who  hui 
B  Mtem,  and  the 
ira  wu  no  roaitt- 


1B13.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


309 


A  few  detached  combata,  and  ita  mortification  woa  in  propor- 
tion to  tho  magnitude  of  ita  doluaion ;  whilo  Kngluiid  hailed 
the  aucccsa  of  the  Shannon  aa  a  proof  that  ita  ancient  renown 
waa  about  to  bo  ntguined. 

In  America  reflection  eoon  cauaed  the  mortification  in  a 

Stmt  mcaauro  to  aubaido,  aa  it  woa  aocn  that  tho  capture  of 
e  Cheaapcake  waa  owing  to  a  concurrence  of  circuinMtancoa 
that  waa  not  likely  auain  to  happen.  It  waa  aoon  understood 
that  tho  cloaonow*  and  Hhorl  duration  of  thia  combat  wore  ac- 
tually owing  to  their  own  officer,  who  brought  hia  ahip  ao  near 
that  tho  battle  waa  nocoaaarily  aoon  decided,  while  ita  aucccod- 
ing  incidcnta  were  oltogeihor  tho  reaulta  of  tho  chancoe  of  war. 
At  the  moment  when  the  Knglish  boarded,  the  total  loaa  of  the 
Shannon  in  men,  ia  believed  to  have  been  at  least  equal  to  that 
of  the  Cheaapcake  j  y«t  thn  former  vessel  waa  deprived  of  tho 
aorvicea  of  no  importont  officer  but  tho  boaUwain,  whilo  tho 
Cheaapcake  had  lost  Ihoao  of  her  captoin,  two  of  her  lieuten- 
unta,  maater,  marine  officer,  and  boatawain,  including  every 
one  in  any  authority  on  tho  upper  dock.  These  fortuitoua 
events  are  aa  unconnected  with  any  particular  merit  on  tho 
one  side,  as  with  any  particulor  demerit  on  the  other;  ond  tho 
feeling  of  the  Americana  gradually  settled  down  into  a  acnti- 
ment  of  ainccre  reapect  for  the  high-apirited  Lawrence,  and  of 
deep  regret  for  hia  loaa.  When  told  of  their  defeat,  and  call- 
ed on  to  acknowledge  that  their  enemy  waa  victorioua  in  one 
of  tho  moat  extraordinary  combata  of  tho  ngc,  they  have  gen- 
erally  given  all  the  credit  to  tho  conouerora  that  they  deserved ; 
and  whilo  they  frankly  admit  that  the  victory  waa  remarkable, 
thoy  may  bo  excused  for  believing  it  quite  aa  much  ao  for 
standing  alone  in  such  a  war,  as  for  any  other  diatinguiahing 
charaoteriatic. 


MMH 


aifeili 


««■ 


mmm 


310 


NAVAL    NI«TO»f. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

WHitR  thcw  diflerflnt  event*  wore  occurrinp[  nmoog  the  frf- 

K((w  and  larKiT  kIixji)!*  of  war,  thu  liuliior  cruiKn  of  thn  navy 
d  not  been  idln.  Tho  fato  uf  tho  Nautilui  has  bwu  already 
mentioned ;  the  Argua'H  cruuea  have  aUo  been  alluded  to ; 
but  nolhintf  has  liovn  said  of  t>K)  Siran,  Enterpriae,  and  Vixen, 
the  other  tluoo  little  voiiaeli,  which  were  ao  diatinguialiod  in  tho 
Tri|i<ilit{in  conteitt.  The  latter,  liku  her  iti^ter  tho  Naotiiua,  hud 
but  a  ahort  career  allor  tho  declaration  of  war.  During  the 
first  few  months,  she  was  on  the  southern  coejiit,  u/ider  the 
comnwnd  of  Captain  Gadtidon,  but  that  oHicor  dying,  she  was 
given  to  Captain  Washington  Reed,  who  went  on  a  cruine 
aniong  tho  Ulands.  A  few  days  out,  he  was  f».)len  in  with 
and  <;lia»(Hl  by  tho  Soutluunplon  8'i,  Cnpifain  Sir  James  Lucas 
Yeo,  which  ship  8ucceed«!d  in  ueUing  alomgnido  of  the  Vixen, 
after  a  short  but  aevcre  trial  of  spood,  and  of  course  captured 
her.  Botli  vessels  were  soon  after  wrecked  on  one  of  tne  Ba- 
hama Islands,  wtien,  it  is  aaid,  that  the  American  crew  set  an 
example  of  suboniination,  sobriety,  and  order,  that  produced 
a  strong  impression  on  the  British  otticers. 

The  Siren  cruised  u  short  time  in  tho  Oulf  of  Mexico  with- 
out meeting  with  any  Hhing,  under  Lieutenant  Commandant 
Jcwoph  Bainbridgcs  and  then  came  north,  going  into  Bojton. 
Here  Mr.  Bainbridge,  who  had  bcji  promoted,  was  transferred 
to  the  Frolic,  one  of  the  now  sloops  built  undi  '■  tho  late  laws ; 
and  Mr.  George  Parker,  who  had  been  the  fust  lieutenant  of 
the  Constitution,  in  her  action  with  the  Java,  having  Ijoen  pro- 
moted, wo*  attached  to  the  brig  in  his  place.  T!<e  future  his- 
tory of  this  little  cruiser  being  brief,  it  may  Vo  given  here. 
She  soiled  from  Boston  in  the  sumnner  of  16i4,  and,  ahortly 
after  8hc  got  to  son,  Captain  I'nrker  died  ;  when  Lieutenant  N. 
NicholHon  succeeded  to  the  command.  On  the  F2th  of  July, 
the  Siien  fell  in  with  thd  Medway  74,  Captain  Brine,  and, 
after  a  vigorous  chase  of  eleven  hours,  during  which  the  brig 
threw  her  suns  overboard,  she  was  captured,  an*^  taken  into 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hop. 

The  fortune  of  the  Enterprise  was  belter.  Her  first  com- 
mander was3fr.  Johnston  Blakcly,  who  kept  her  on  the  eeat- 


I 


■*«gllMM«MM 


mpiMMi 


Iltl.1 


NAVAL   HIITORT. 


811 


Among  the  fri- 
rs  of  tln!  n»vy 
s  btuu  alroatiy 
n  alluded  to; 
Ian,  and  Vixen, 
iguisliod  ill  tho 
;  Naotilua,  hud 
'.  During  the 
leiit,  ujidur  the 
dyin^g.  "ho  was 
It  on  a  cruim 
r«llen  in  with 
r  James  Luca« 
of  thn  Vixna» 
ourao  captured 
one  of  iiv  Ba- 
nn  craw  aet  an 
,  that  produced 

»f  Mexico  with- 
t  Commandant 
ig  into  Bojton. 
was  transferred 
-  the  late  laws ; 
t  lieutenant  of 
Eiviiig  been  pro* 
r:<e  future  hia* 
}'0  given  here. 
l4,  and,  ahortly 
[t  Lieutenant  N. 
J  F2th  of  July, 
tin  Brine,  and, 
which  the  brig 
and  taken  into 

Her  first  com- 
[lor  on  the  eeat- 


rrii  coant,  where  ihe  was  of  great  msnkc,  in  drivinp  otf  the 
•mull  privutefM  that  worn  sent  lait  of  the  adjaonn*  Kngliah 
ports.  In  August,  she  cBpluffil  th<i  Fly  privatfcrr ;  mid  soon 
aflcr,  Mr.  Hl«k«?ly,  having  riw^ii  to  tho  innk  of  iimstor  nnd 
coiiiMmiid(^?r,  waa  given  the  comnmnd  of  a  new  idoon  called 
the  Wasp.  Mis  suert-wsor  in  th«;  Enterprise  was  Mr.  William 
BurMws.  The  <t>}t\u-j3  of  tho  vvnm\,  under  (his  olficor,  waa 
not  chango«l  j  but  sImi  whs  still  kept  to  watt'^h  the  «ncmy's  priva* 
leers,  lietwiyui  Cu|itt  Ann  and  Ihe  Bay  of  Fundy. 

The  Kntorprise  Ictl  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  on  tho  1st  of  Sep. 
tcmU'r,  1H13,  mid  atixiring  to  lite  oastwarO.  was  hid  into  Port- 
land, in  chase  of  a  schooner,  on  the  3'i.  On  tho  ^th,  sho 
swrpt  out  to  sea  ngnin,  f  mirsued  htr  course  to  the  eastward 
in  qiicrst  of  scvf'rnl  privai  ,a  that  were  reported  to  be  off  Man- 
hognn.  While  o|)ening  She  Imy,  near  Pengiiin  F'oint,  a  brig 
wos  seen  getting  under  way,  that  had  every  app*^roiice  of  be- 
ing a  veaael  of  war.  The  character  of  tho  stranger  w»»  soon 
put  out  of  all  doubt,  by  her  setting  four  British  ensigns,  firing 
several  guns,  which  are  siiwje  known  to  h»\vo  been  signals  or 
recoil  to  p  luK't  that  hod  gone  to  the  shon?,  ond  her  tniikins 
aail  to  ( loao  with  tho  Eiitorpriae.  Being  satisfied  that  he  haa 
an  enen;y  and  a  v<»xl  of  war  to  deal  with,  Lieutenant  Com- 
mandant Burrows  hauled  up,  in  order  to  clear  tho  land. 

While  the  two  vessels  were  standing  out,  the  Entorpriao  lead- 
ing, some  prepnmtions  were  making  on  board  tho  latter  that 
Crotluced  uneaHmcss  in  a  p<irtion  of  her  crow.  This  little  brig 
ad  a  small  poop-cabin  on  deck,  and  Mr.  Burrows  had  direct- 
ed a  long  gun  from  forward  to  be  brought  all,  and  to  bo  run 
out  of  one  of  the  windows.  Owing  to  tho  rake  of  the  stem- 
frame,  and  to  the  fixtures  of  the  cabin,  this  arrangement  could 
not  be  completed  without  cutting  away  some  of  the  wood.  On 
observing  this,  th«"  impression  tecume  general  among  tlio  men 
that  it  was  the  intciuiDn  of  their  commander,  who  was  almost 
a  stranger  to  them,  to  keep  off,  and  to  use  the  gun  as  a  stern- 
chaser.  This  was  an  unpleasant  idea  to  the  forccastlo-men  in 
particular,  who  won-  burning  with  o  desire  to  Ik-  carried  along- 
side of  the  enemy.  Tho  forecjistle  was  commanded  by  a  young 
officer  of  great  promise,  and  the  seamen  at  length  urged  hirn 
to  go  afl  and  state  their  anxiety  to  engage,  as  wrell  as  their  en- 
tire confidence  of  success.  This  gcuileman  so  far  complied 
as  to  speak  privately  to  the  first  lieutenant,  who  explained  the 
intention  of  Mr.  Burrows,  and  fully  satisfied  the  |>eople. 
At  8  P.  M.,  believing  himself  far  enough  from  the  land,  and 


319 


NATAL    NIITOIir, 


PfW 


having  cmplotrd  hia  |tri*|Mrati<)iM,  hioutonant  Comnutruknl 
Uurruwi  ■Itortom^d  wtii  oml  ciigsU  uwuy  tuwonJa  hi*  otKiiny, 
who  wmimkI  «()iMlly  wiUing  tu  cngagu.  'I'lw  two  brigs  ap« 
pmoolwd  on  cuntrnrv  tnehN.  Aa  iHny  ncami  nath  otlwtr,  or 
at  'JO  iniiiiJ(«a  |Miit  a,  thny  k()|)t  awo}  tugothiT ;  biuI  oa  llK<y 
uanw  aiilo  Uy  aido,  Imth  ikihvanxj  Ihoir  Jirt',  wilhin  piatol-ahol. 
Th"  IwiU'rjiriao  (i|i«ii(h1  wuh  Iwr  lorboarti,  and  tlw  vminy 
with  hia  atarbottrU  guna.  'I'Ih*  formnr  brig  drew  ahrnd,  kcnp. 
ing  u|i  nil  nniina(u«riir«j,  and  tliiding  hiniai-ir  wull  rorwnrd  of 
th«  kngliah  voaaol'a  bow,  Mr.  liurrowa  out  hia  h<<liii  n-atar* 
board,  uml  alK-orod  ucroaa  hia  nntagoniat  a  tomfiMti,  tiring  tho 
gun  Ihut  hud  tiuvn  run  out  of  Ihn  cabin  window  onnn  or  twi(;« 
with  grrat  otR-ct  in  |Miaaing.  'i'ho  cnfujy  waa  now  nllowmi  to 
conw  U|i  again  on  thn  Kntorpriao'a  quarter,  wtK<ii  Iho  two  v«». 
•eta  cngagixi  with  ihoir  oppoaito  guna ;  tho  Anioriran  brig  con* 
tinuing  to  ko(3|»  woll  on  tlw  oncmy'a  l-)w.  In  thin  aiiuation  tho 
I'^gliah  vcaaul  loat  Imr  mniii-tupinaNt,  whtin  the  Kntor|iria« 
ogam  ahttsrwl  athwart  hor  londbot,  mkod  hor  onoo  or  twica 
niora  with  thu  lung  gun  al\,  which  proved  to  bo  tlin  moat  anr- 
vicoablo  pioce  in  tnu  voaaol,  and  rvaumod  her  |)o«ition  on  the 
omunjr'a  atarboard  bow,  maintaining  an  nniinatt>d  tire.  Whil« 
lying  in  tliia  luvourublo  aitunlioii,  thu  en<tiny  atruck. 

In  thia  hot  and  viguroua  combat,  tho  ICntuqiriao  waa  aiiigu- 
larly  wi<ll  hundlod,  inanuiuvring  on  the  bowa  of  her  nnumy 
with  otibct,  whilo  ahe  waa  kept  |iorfoctly  in  comnmnd,  and  was 
ready  iit  any  moment  to  moot  any  chaiigo  ol  position  on  the 

Cart  or  her  antugoniat.  That  it  waa  tlio  original  intention  of 
ur  coinmnndur  to  light  her  in  this  novel  manner,  waa  appa* 
rent  by  the  forcthought  ho  diacovorod  in  shifting  tho  bow  gun 
aft. 

Tho  flro  of  the  enemy  coosod  about  4,  though  his  coloura 
weru  still  dying.  He  now  hailed  to  say  ho  had  struck  ;  and 
when  ordered  to  haul  down  hid  ensign,  an  answer  wan  given 
that  it  hud  boon  nailod  aloft,  und  could  not  bo  lowered  until 
tho  flro  of  the  Entorpriao  should  coase.  After  this  awkward 
explanation,  tho  Entorpriso  stopped  firing,  and  took  possession. 
The  priie  proved  to  be  H.B.  M.  brig  Roxer  14,  Captain 
BIythe,  an  officer  of  merit,  who  had  been  cut  nearly  in  two 
by  an  eightocn-pound  shot.  Tho  loss  of  tho  Boxer  in  killed 
has  novor  Uwn  oocuratoly  ascertained,  though  it  is  thought  to 
havo  bwn  relatively  hoovy.  8ho  had  14  men  woindod.  The 
Entorpriso  had  1  man  killed,  and  13  wounded,  of  whom  3 
subiioquently  dK-d.    Among  the  latter,  unhappily,  was  her  guU 


(iMS. 

OMntnuiuhnl 
b  hia  niHiiny, 
two  briga  ap« 
ai'h  otlKtr,  ur 

uikI  aa  llK<y 
III  |>ia(i)l-ahol, 
id  Ums  I'lminy 

ohcnil,  konp* 
I  lurward  of 

h<<lin  H-aUr< 
M)(,  tiring  (h« 
>ni;o  or  iwit^e 
3w  nliowiNi  to 
I  th()  two  vfnH 
icnn  brig  con* 
)  (iluntion  (ho 
le  Hnt«r|)riM6 
iM'o  or  twice 
ho  moat  acr- 
•ition  on  the 
Iflre.  While 
ici<. 

w)  waa  aingu- 
f  hor  onomy 
MnJ, and  was 
mition  on  the 

intention  of 
tr,  waa  oppa- 

tho  bow  gun 

h  his  colours 
atruck ;  and 
'or  woa  given 
iuwcrod  until 
hia  awkward 
>k  poucaaion. 
14,  Captain 
learly  in  two 
ixnr  in  killed 
ia  thought  to 
Minded.  The 
,  of  whom  3 
waa  hor  guU 


Ills.) 


NAVAL    MIITORT. 


813 


iant  c(>mman<l<nr.  Alihmigli  ihwi  ilmpariiy  iu  tlm  coaualtim  of 
Ihia  action  waa  not  mi  Miriking  aa  in  mntw  of  ttwi  prrvioua  i<n- 
gagiiinnnia,  that  in  tho  injurioa  roci'ivi<d  by  tho  two  vcaaela  waa 
v«>ry  gri«nt.     Hut  on«  I'li^htm  n-poiiitd  ahot  hullfd  tho  ^Jntpr- 

Kriaiii  i)iii<  [MHaiid  through  her  iiminiimal,  niid  uiiothir  through 
vr  forrnmal.  Hho  wna  iiuuh  cut  up  nlol),  iMirtifulnrly  by 
gm|m ;  and  a  gnrnt  innny  ahut  of  Ihn  laltor  <ltiM;ription  had 
atrunk  h«ir  hull.  Nnarly  all  of  ihn  cnaualtiea  w«<rii  rmniv<i<l 
rroiii  groiiH  or  oaniatcr  ahot.  On  tho  olhor  hand,  tho  lioxor 
had  tmin  rcpeali*dly  hulled,  had  no  loaa  than  thrton  eightiwn* 
pound  ahot  through  hor  |nn<nmMl  iilonn  ;  Mivcrnl  of  her  guna 
wen;  ilmiiHiuntiHl,  hi'r  tupgitllnnt-rnnN-natlo  wna  nearly  cut 
away,  and  her  aaila,  apara,  and  rigging  generally,  were  much 
lorn  to  piecea.  Thu  water  U.ing  quite  amuoth,  neither  veaaet 
waa  diamaated.  Tho  Koternriao  returned  to  Portland  on  the 
7lh,  with  the  IU>xcr,  whtmi  Lieutenant  (Toinmondant  Hurrowa, 
and  ('aptain  Hlythe,  were  laith  buried  with  tho  lionoura  of  war. 
After  the  i|i<nth  of  Mr.  Hurrowa,  Lieutenant  Jninea  Keiiahaw 
waa  opptiinted  to  tho  coinmond  of  ti."  KnterpriM',  under  which 
oAoer,  during  the  following  winter,  aho  made  a  cruiao  to  the 
■outhward,  aa  far  aa  the  Weat-Indiea.  Hero  her  uaual  good 
fortune  accompanied  hor ;  for  though  alio  aailinj  badly,  and 
wiia  thrc*)  timea  hard  chaacd,  ahe  alwaya  e8ca|XNl,  Tho  Hal- 
lleanake  Ifl,  a  foat-aailiiig  brig,  bought  into  the  aervice,  waa  in 
com|iany,  under  the  ordera  of  Lieutenant  (/omrnoudant  Croigh* 
ton,  who  waa  the  aeniur  officer  of  the  two  voaaola.  Mr.  Creigh* 
ton  wont  on  cruiaing  ground  much  frequented  by  tho  enemy, 
and  yet  fell  in  with  no  man-of-war  ho  could  engage.  Ho  waa 
chaacd  by  lieavy  ahipa,  and,  to  uao  hia  own  cx|)n<iNiion,  "  in 
every  inatance,  tho  goo<l  fortune  of  tho  Kntorpnae  haa  been 
wondorflilly  manifoat."  Tho  Rattleanake  uutaailod  her  conaort 
with  10  much  oaac,  that  moat  of  the  cruiae  ahe  waa  under  hor 
topoaila. 

While  off  tho  cooat  of  Florida,  tho  Entcrpriae  got  alongaide 
of  the  Mara  14,  a  Rritiah  privateer,  with  a  crew  of  7ft  men. 
When  the  two  brigs  appeared,  near  half  tho  people  of  the 
Mara  took  to  the  U>ats  and  went  oahore,  to  escape  improsa* 
ment ;  but  hor  master,  notwithstanding  thia  reduction  of  hia 
force,  ranged  up  under  the  broadside  of  tho  Enterprise,  with 
hia  tompiona  out  nnd  guna  trained.  Lieutenant  Ilenahaw,  be- 
ing ignorimt  of  tho  strength  of  tho  crew  of  the  Mara,  fired 
into  her,  when  she  struck,  having  had  4  men  killed  and 
wounded.  On  tho  26th  of  April,  the  brigs  separated  while 
87 


314 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[1811. 


chased  by  a  frigate.  The  enemy  pursued  the  Enterprise,  and 
for  70  hours  pressed  her  very  hard.  Lieutenant  Commandant 
Renshaw  was  compelled  to  throw  all  his  guns  but  one  over, 
board,  and  yet  the  enemy  frequently  camo  within  the  range  of 
•hot.  On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  it  was  perfectly  calm,  and 
the  frigate,  then  at  long  gun-shot,  began  to  hoist  out  her  boats, 
when  n  light  breeze  sprang  up,  and  brought  this  lucky  little 
brig  ag(iin  dead  to  windward.  Nothing  but  this  favourable 
ehifl  of  wind  saved  the  Enterprise  from  capture. 

Shortly  after,  Mr.  Creighton  was  promoted,  and  appointed 
to  the  command  of  a  new  sloop  of  war  just  launched  at  Wash- 
ington, and  Mr.  Renshaw  was  transferred  to  the  Rattlesnake. 
The  two  vessels  being  in  a  southern  port,  the  Enterprise  was 
Bent  to  Charleston,  where  she  became  the  guard-vessel,  her 
sailing  being  too  indifferent  to  allow  of  her  being  sent  to  sea 
again,  in  such  a  war.  When  cruising  in  the  Rattlesnake,  in 
lat.  40°  N.,  long.  33°  W.,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Renshaw 
was  chased  by  a  frigate,  and  compelled  to  throw  overboard  all 
his  armament  but  the  two  long  guns.  By  this  means  he  es- 
caped. June  22d,  near  the  same  siwt,  however,  he  fell  in  with 
the  Leander  50,  a  new  ship,  constructed  on  the  most  approved 
modern  plan,  which  vessel  captured  him ;  the  Rattlesnake  hav- 
uig  been  unfortunately  placed  between  an  enemy  that  had  the 
advantage  of  the  wind,  and  the  land.  On  this  occasion,  Lieu- 
tenant  Commandant  Renshaw  kept  his  colours  flying  in  a  very 
steady  and  officer-like  manner,  until  the  Leander  threw  her 
shot  mto  the  Rattlesnake  with  precision  and  effect. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Ik  addition  to  the  law  of  January  2d,  1813,  which  authorised 
the  construction  of  four  ships  of  the  line  and  six  heavy  frigates, 
it  will  be  remembered  that  the  executive  was  also  empowered 
to  cause  several  sloops  of  war  to  be  laid  down.  These  ships 
were  of  the  class  of  the  Hornet  and  Wasp,  but  were  a  little 
larger  than  the  old  vessels  of  the  same  rate ;  and  they  all 
mounted  20  thirty-two-pound  carronades,  besides  the  two  bow 
guns.    Most  of  them  were  got  into  the  water  in  the  courts  of 


[leis. 

Enterprise,  and 
nt  Commandant 
18  but  one  over< 
lin  the  range  of 
fectly  calm,  and 
Rt  out  her  boats, 
this  lucky  littlo 
this  favourable 

,  and  appointed 
inched  at  Wash- 
Ihc  Rattlesnake. 

Enterprise  was 
unrd-vesscl,  her 
icing  sent  to  sea 

Rattlesnake,  in 
ndant  Renshaw 
>w  overboard  all 
lis  means  he  es- 
)r,  he  fell  in  with 
e  most  approved 
■lattlesnake  hav* 
my  that  had  the 
i  occasion,  Lieu* 
flying  in  a  very 
mder  threw  her 
Sect. 


which  authorised 
ix  heavy  frigates, 

also  empowered 
n.    These  ships 

but  were  a  little 
te ;  and  they  all 
ides  the  two  bow 

in  the  cour«6  of 


181S.1 


NAYAL    HISTORY. 


315 


the  year  1813,  though  their  preparations  were  in  different  de- 
grees of  forwardness.  They  were  called  the  Wasp,  the  Frolic, 
the  Peacock,  the  Erie,  the  Ontario,  and  the  Argus.  As  there 
had  been  a  brig  in  the  navy  of  the  latter  name,  however,  with 
which  the  reader  has  long  been  acquainted,  it  is  now  necessary 
to  allude  to  her  fate. 

After  the  return  of  the  Argus  from  her  cruise  under  Lieu- 
tenant Commandant  Sinclair,  as  has  been  already  stated,  Mr. 
William  Henry  Allen,  who  had  been  the  first  lieutenant  of  the 
United  States  44,  in  her  action  with  the  Mnoedonian,  was 
appointed  to  command  her.  Lieutenant  Allcu  first  obtained 
the  Argus  by  an  order  from  Commodore  Decatur ;  and  there 
was  a  moment  when  it  was  uncertain  whether  Captain  Biddle, 
or  this  gentleman,  should  go  to  sea  in  the  brig,  but  the  former 
was  put  into  the  Hornet.  Mr.  Allen  was  shortly  after  pro- 
moted, when  his  new  station  was  confirmed  by  the  department. 
June  18th,  1813,  the  Argus  sailed  from  New  York,  with  Mr. 
Crawford,  then  recently  appointed  minister  to  Franc«,  on 
board ;  and  after  a  passage  of  23  doys,  she  arrived  safe  at 
rOrient.  Remaining  but  three  days  in  the  port,  Captain  Allen 
proceeded  on  a  cruise. 

The  Argus  sailed  from  I'Orient  about  the  middle  of  July, 
and  her  exploits  for  the  next  few  weeks,  revive  the  recollections 
of  those  of  Captains  Jones,  Wickes,  and  Conyngham,  during 
the  Revolution.  Captain  Allen  kept  his  brig  for  some  time  in 
the  chops  of  the  English  Channel,  then  went  round  the  Land's 
End,  and  shifted  his  cruising  ground  to  the  Irish  Channel.  He 
captured  twenty  sail  of  merchantmen,  while  passing,  as  it 
might  be,  through  the  very  centre  of  the  enemy,  most  of  which 
were  destroyed.  The  appearance  ot  this  vessel  so  near  the 
British  coast,  excited  much  interest  in  the  English  commercial 
world,  and  several  cruiiiers  were  immediately  sent  in  chase  of 

It  will  readily  be  understood,  that  the  duty  on  board  the 
Argus,  was  of  the  most  harassing  and  fatiguing  nature,  the 
feelings  of  Captain  Allen  inducing  him  to  allow  the  masters 
and  passengers  of  the  different  vessels  he  took,  to  remove  every 
thing  of  value,  that  belonged  to  themselves,  before  he  caused 
the  prizes  to  be  burned.  I.ideed,  in  so  honourable  anA  chival- 
rous a  spirit  did.  this  excellent  officer  conduct  the  peculiar  war- 
&re  in  which  he  was  engaged,  that  even  the  enemy  did  ample 
justice  to  his  liberality. 

On  the  night  of  the  13th  of  August,  the  Argus  fell  in  with 


I 


i>i|i)jiww«!ii!ttitAiimj«i%:^i.aa«iiiu^  lu  \mitii 


iwwB*nmBWiB'Uwi!efeMiifidHditiWt*ilna 


316 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[1813. 


u  vessel  froni  O|)orto,  louded  with  wine.  It  has  been  said,  and 
apparently  on  authority  entitled  to  credit,  that  a  good  deal  of 
the  liquor  was  brought  on  board  the  brig,  clandestinely,  as  the 
boats  passed  to  and  1  ro,  and  that  many  of  the  people,  who  had 
been  over-worked  and  kept  from  their  rest,  partook  of  the  re- 
freshment it  affurdcd  too  freely.  A  little  before  daylight  the 
prize  was  set  on  fire,  when  the  Argus  Icfl  her,  under  easy  sail. 
Shortly  after,  a  large  brig  of  war  was  seen  standing  down  upon 
the  American  vessel,  under  a  cloud  of  canvass;  and  finding  it 
impossible  to  gain  the  wind  of  his  enemy.  Captain  Allen  short- 
ened sail  to  allow  him  to  close.  At  6,  the  Argus  wore,  and 
fired  her  larboard  broadside,  the  English  vessel  being  then 
within  good  grape  and  canister  range.  The  fire  was  imme- 
diately returned,  the  brigs  fast  drawing  nearer.  Within  four 
minutes  adcr  the  commencement  of  the  action.  Captain  Allen 
was  mortally  wounded,  by  a  round  shot's  carrying  off  a  leg. 
He  refused  to  be  taken  below,  but  fainting  from  loss  of  blood, 
he  was  carried  off  the  deck  at  8  minutes  past  6.  At  12  mia- 
utea  past  6,  Mr.  Watson,  the  first  lieutenant,  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  head  by  a  grape-shot,  which  stunned  him,  and 
he  was  also  taken  below.  But  one  lieutenant  remained,  Mr. 
W.  H.  Allen,  who  continued  to  fight  the  brig,  in  a  very  gallant 
manner,  under  the  most  discouraging  circumstances.  At  this 
juncture,  the  Argus  was  beautifully  handled,  an  attempt  of  the 
enemy  to  cross  her  stern,  by  keeping  away,  having  been  frus- 
trated, by  the  American  brig's  luffing  into  the  wind,  making  a 
half-board  and  throwing  in  a  completely  raking  broadside  her- 
self. But  all  the  braces  aft  having  been  shot  away,  the  Argus 
broke  round  off,  in  filling  again,  when  the  enemy  succeeded  in 
crossing  her  stern  and  raking.  At  26  minutes  past  6,  the 
wheel-ropes  and  nearly  all  the  running  rigging  being  gone,  the 
Argus  became  unmanageable,  and  the  enemy  chose  his  positioD 
at  pleasure.  At  half-past  6,  Mr.  Watson  returned  to  the  deck, 
when  he  found  the  enemy  lying  under  the  Argus's  stem,  pour* 
ing  in  his  fire  without  resistance.  An  attempt  was  made  to 
get  alongside,  with  a  view  to  board,  but  it  was  found  impracti* 
cable  to  move  the  American  brig,  while  the  enemy  kept  on  her 
quarter,  or  bow,  throwing  in  a  cross  or  raking  fire  with  im< 
punity,  the  Argus  seldom  being  able  to  bring  a  gun  to  bear. 
At  47  minutes  past  6,  the  colours  were  ordered  to  be  hauled 
down ;  the  enemy,  at  the  same  moment,  falling  on  board,  and 
taking  possession  over  the  bow. 
The  English  brig  was  the  Pelican  18,  Captain  Maples, 


[1813. 

cen  said,  and 
good  deal  of 
itincly,  as  the 
)ple,  who  had 
ok  of  the  re- 
daylight  the 
dcr  easy  sail, 
ig  down  upon 
md  finding  it 
I  Alien  short- 
US  wore,  and 
;1  being  then 

0  was  imme- 
Within  four 

'aptain  Allen 
ing  off  a  leg. 
OSS  of  blood, 
At  12  min- 
ivas  severely 
ncd  him,  and 
3mained,  Mr. 

1  very  gallant 
aea.  At  this 
ttempt  of  the 
ng  been  frus* 
[)d,  making  A 
roadside  her- 
ly,  the  Argus 
succeeded  in 
s  past  6,  the 
ing  gone,  the 
e  his  position 
I  to  the  deck, 
i  stem,  pour- 
ivas  maide  to 
ind  impracti- 
f  kept  on  her 
fire  with  im- 
gun  to  beafr 
to  be  hauled 
a  board,  and 

:ain  Maples, 


1613.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


317 


mounting  16  thirty-two-pound  carronados,  fijur  long  guns,  and 
one  twelve-pound  carronado.  The  armament  of  the  Argus, 
by  crowding  guns  into  the  bridle  ports,  was  18  twenty-four- 
pound  carrouudos  and  two  chase  guns.  The  enemy  was  so 
much  heavier,  that  it  may  bo  doubted  whether  the  Argus  could 
have  captured  her  antagonist  under  any  ordinary  circumstances, 
but  it  has  been  usual,  in  the  service,  to  impute  this  defeat  to  a 
want  of  officers,  and  to  the  fact  that  the  people  of  the  Argus 
wore  not  in  a  fit  condition  to  go  into  action.  The  American 
vessel  was  particularly  well  officered,  so  far  as  quality  was 
concerned,  though  her  batteries  were  necessarily  left  without 
a  proper  supervision,  after  Mr.  Watson  was  taken  below.  It 
is  not  easy  to  believe  that  Captain  Allen  would  have  engaged 
with  his  people  under  any  very  obvious  influence  from  a  free 
use  of  wine,  but  nothing  is  more  probable  than  that  the  crew 
of  the  Argus  should  have  been  overworked,  in  the  peculiar 
situation  in  which  they  were  placed  ;  and  they  may  have  been 
exposed  to  the  particular  influence  mentioned,  without  the  cir- 
cumstance having  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  superior  offi- 
cers. They  have,  indeed,  been  described  as  "  nodding  at  their 
guns,"  from  excessive  fatigue.  One  thing  would  seem  to  be 
certain,  that,  while  the  brig  was  beautifliUy  handled,  so  long 
as  she  was  at  all  manageable,  the  fire  of  no  other  American 
cruiser  in  this  war,  was  as  little  destructive  as  that  of  the 
Argus.*  This  has  been  attributed  to  the  fatigue  of  the  crew, 
and  1t  is  reasonable  to  auppose  that  the  circumstance  of  the 
two  lieutenants  having  been  so  etrly  taken  from  the  batteries, 
did  not  contribute  to  the  accuracy  of  the  fire.  It  ought,  more- 
over, to  be  added,  that  the  Pelican  was  about  a  fourth  largei 
than  her  antagonist. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  when  its  length, 
closeness,  and  want  of  resistance,  are  considered,  does  not  ap- 
pear  to  have  been  remarkable.  The  Argus  had  two  midship- 
men, and  four  men  killed,  and  17  men  wounded,  in  an  action 
of  three  quarters  of  an  hour.    The  Pelican,  notwithstanding, 

•  It  if  OM  trtdition  oT  the  lerviee  tliat  the  Argai  wei  lost  bv  donble 
ihotUnc  the  cerromdeik  It  ia  oertain  that  a  carronade  will  not  bear  two 
shot  to  advanUge.  In  her  first  cruiie,  the  Embi,  which  vend  had  an 
armament  of  carronadea,  took  a  mercbant-brtg,  on  which  Captain  Porter 
determined  to  t^  the  effect  of  hu  broadiide.  The  frigate  ranged  fairly 
alongside  of  her  prita,  and  fired  a  whole  broadiide  into  her,  each  gun  being 
double.«botted.  Nearly  every  ehot  etruck,  and  but  two  or  thr*^  with  the 
exception  ofthoae  from  the  long  twelves,  penetrated  the  brig's  side*. 
87* 


tiii0)iitimmmmtimmmmmmummmUimmm 


318 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[1813. 


wctextrpinely  wuU  managed,  and  waa  very  gallently  fought. 
She  lost  7  mon  in  killed  and  woundeO,  but  appears  to  have 
Buflered  very  little  in  her  hull,  or  even  aloil. 

Captain  Allen  died  of  his  wound  in  the  hospital  of  Mill 
Prison,  and  was  buried  by  the  enemy  with  the  honours  of  war. 
Mr.  Watson  recovered  of  his  hurts. 

Thus  the  navy  lost  all  but  the  Enterprise,  of  the  five  little 
cruisers  that  had  figured  before  Tripoli,  and  which  had  become 
endeared  to  the  service  by  its  traditions  and  recollections.  The 
Argus  alone,  had  been  taken  under  circunistunces  that  allowed 
a  gun  to  be  fired. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


Shobixy  after  the  commencement  of  the  war,  a  hundred 
British  pennants  were  assembled  in  the  American  seas.  A 
considerable  force  collected  in  the  Chesapeake,  a  part  of  which 
was  kept  to  watch  the  Constellation,  in  the  manner  mentioned, 
while  the  small  vessels  made  descents  on  the  coast,  or  entered 
the  rivers  and  creeks,  with  which  those  waters  abound. 

In  the  early  part  of  June,  1813,  the  enemy  was  thought  to 
have  had  more  than  twenty  sail  of  cruisers  in  and  about  the 
Chesapeake,  ^f  which  several  were  ships  of  the  line.  The  flags 
of  two  admirals  were  flying  among  them.  On  the  18th,  three 
frigates  came  into  Hampton  Roads,  and  one  of  them  went  up 
nearly  to  the  quarantine  ground,  sending  her  boats  to  destroy 
some  small  vessels  in  the  James.  The  next  day  the  flotilla 
of  gun-boats  descended  to  attack  her,  under  the  orders  of  Cap- 
tain Tarbell,  then  temporarily  in  command  of  the  Constellation. 
There  were  fifteen  boats  in  all,  acting  in  two  divisions,  one  of 
which  was  directed  by  Lieutenant  Gardner,  and  the  other  by 
Lieutenant  Robert  Henley.  OflScers  and  men  were  taken 
from  the  frigate  to  man  them,  including  nearly  all  her  lieu- 
tenants and  midshipmen.  A  company  of  riflemen  volunteered 
to  join  the  seamen,  and  were  also  distributed  among  the  boats. 
The  weather  prevented  Captain  Tarbell  from  approaching  the 
enemy,  until  Sunday,  the  30th,  when  it  fell  calm,  and  the  gun- 
boats dropped  down  within  a  good  range  for  shot,  and  opeaed 


[1813. 

;ntly  fought, 
in  to  have 

lital  of  Mill 
ours  of  war. 

ie  five  littlo 

had  become 

ictions.  The 

that  allowed 


in&] 


NAVAL     UlSTORT. 


319 


r,  a  hundred 
an  seas.  A 
tart  of  which 
r  mentioned, 
It,  or  entered 
ound. 

IS  thought  to 
nd  about  the 
e.  The  flags 
e  18th,  three 
lem  went  up 
ts  to  destroy 
kjr  the  flotilla 
rders  of  Cap- 
>>n8tellation. 
iions,  one  of 
the  other  by 
were  takftn 
all  her  lieu- 
1  volunteered 
itg  the  boats, 
roaching  the 
and  the  gun- 
,  and  opoiad 


on  the  upper  frigate,  about  4,  A.  M.  At  this  time  the  two 
other  frigates  wore  still  lying  in  the  Roads. 

The  gun-boats  formed  in  a  crescent,  and  a  brisk  cannonade 
was  commenced  on  the  part  of  the  Americans.  It  was  some 
time  before  the  enemy  returned  it,  the  approach  in  the  dark 
and  mist  having  taken  him  completely  by  surprise.  The 
flotilla  began  the  action  at  anchor,  but  it  was  soon  found  im- 
possible to  keep  the  boats  steady,  and  nrast  of  them  weighed, 
and  gut  out  their  sweeps,  by  means  of  which  the  guns  wore 
kept  bearing  in  tho  right  direction.  The  defence  of  the  frigate 
was  very  feeble,  and  aikT  disctuirging  two  or  three  broadsides, 
she  got  under  way,  but  the  wind  was  too  light  to  enable  her 
either  to  close,  or  to  haul  oflf.  This  vessel  was  in  a  very 
critical  situation,  and  owed  her  escape  in  a  great  measure  to 
her  consorts ;  for,  ailor  a  severe  cannonade  of  more  than  an 
hour,  one  of  the  ships  below  was  enabled  to  close,  when  a  much 
sharper  contest  occurred.  But  tho  wind  increasing,  and  the 
third  ship  drawing  near,  Captain  Tarbell  made  a  signal  for  the 
flotilla  to  retire. 

In  this  affair,  nnost  of  the  boats  were  conducted  with  spirit. 
Their  fire  wod  well  directed,  and  they  treated  the  upper  ship 
quite  roughly.  The  fire  of  this  vessel  was  extremely  feeble, 
and  it  appears  to  have  done  no  execution  whatever.  That  of 
the  second  ship,  however,  was  very  animated,  and  it  was  par* 
ticularly  well  directed.  Although  tho  loss  of  the  Americans  in 
men  was  small,  consisting  of  only  one  master's  mate  killed, 
and  two  men  wounded,  the  enemy's  grape  flow  around  them 
in  great  numbers.  ^  boat  received  a  bad  shot  between  wind 
and  water,  and  seve.  .  had  their  sweeps  shot  away,  or  were 
otherwise  injured.  The  gun-boat  commanded  by  Mr.  Nantz, 
the  sailing-master,  was  crippled,  and  in  danger  of  being  cap- 
tured by  the  enemy,  when,  by  order  of  Captain  Tarbell,  she 
was  taken  in  tow  by  the  boat  commanded  by  Lieutenant  W. 
B.  Shubrick,  of  the  Constellation,  and  brought  off. 

The  frigate  first  engaged  was  thought  to  be  the  Narcissus 
82,  and  the  vessel  that  came  to  her  relief,  the  Junon  38,  Cap- 
tain Saunders.  This  experiment  had  the  effect  to  convince 
moat  of  the  sea-officers  engaged  on  board  the  gun-boats,  of  the 
bad  qualities  of  that  description  of  vessel,  they  having  been 
very  generally  found  wanting^  in  a  sufiicient  degree  of  steadi- 
ness to  render  their  fire  certain,  even  in  smooth  water.  The 
rec(»ls  of  the  guns  caused  them  to  roll  to  a  degree  that  rendered 


320 


NWAL    H18T0RT, 


[1813. 


the  aim  uncertain,  and  it  has  been  Been  that  they  could  only 
bo  itopt  in  the  pro|)er  positions  by  the  aid  of  ■weeps. 

The  next  flood,  a  largo  force  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of 
fourteen  sail,  cnme  into  the  Roads,  and  on  attacic  was  expected. 
On  the  20th,  the  enemy's  ships  weighed,  and  ascended  with 
the  tide  to  the  mouth  of  James  river,  where,  in  the  afternoon, 
they  were  seen  mailing  pTc;""-alion8  to  send  up  a  'argo  fon-fl 
in  boats.  As  so  much  depended  on  the  defer'MJ  of  ihe  batte- 
ries of  Craney  Island,  Captain  Cassin,  wiio  commanded  the 
naval  force  at  Norfolk,  sent  th.oo  of  the  lieutenants  of  the  Con 
ster  «•;>«,  Messrs.  Nealo,  W.  Branford  Shubrick,  and  Sanders, 
on  shore,  with  100  seamen,  to  take  charge  of  the  principal 
guns.  This  party  was  sustained  by  Lieutenant  Brockcnridge, 
of  the  marines,  and  about  50  men  of  that  gallant  corps.  Most 
of  the  oflicers  of  the  navy  then  at  Norfolk,  and  who  did  not 
belong  to  the  frigate,  were  also  employed  in  the  gun-boats,  or 
about  the  island. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  the  enemy  was  discovered 
landing  a  large  force  round  the  point  of  the  Nansemond  ;  and 
about  8  A.  M.,  the  barres  of  the  vessels  of  war  attempted  to 
land  in  front  of  Craney  Island,  at  a  point  where  they  were  safe 
from  the  fire  of  the  gun-boats,  though  exposed  to  that  of  the 
seamen's  battery.  Mr.  Neale  now  opened  his  fire,  which  yiaa 
directed  with  great  coolness  and  precision ;  and,  after  having 
three  of  his  boats  sunk,  the  enemy  abandoned  the  attempt. 
The  narrative  of  the  remainder  of  the  operations  of  this  day, 
belongs  to  the  general  history  of  the  war,  rather  than  to  a  work 
of  this  character. 

The  officers,  seamen,  and  marines  of  the  Constellation,  a* 
well  as  the  other  portions  of  the  navy  employed  on  this  occa- 
sion,  gained  great  credit  for  their  steadiness,  discipline,  and 
spirit.  One  of  the  barges  sunk  was  said  to  have  been  a  pecu- 
liar boat,  called,  from  the  great  number  of  oars  she  rowed,  the 
Centipede.  She  was  described  as  having  been  fifty  feet  long, 
and  as  having  contained  76  men.  About  40  prisoners  were 
made  from  the  boats  that  were  sunk,  though  the  total  loss  of 
the  enemy  who  were  opposed  to  the  seamen  and  marines,  u 
not  known.  Captain  Cassin,  in  describing  the  fire  of  the  sea- 
men's battery,  observed  that  it  resembled  the  shr-ot  r  55  of  rifle- 
men. There  is  no  doubt  that  the  enemy  found  it  much  too 
cool  and  direct  to  be  Ihced. 

The  f-overnment  had  fitted  out  several  sn;  .*«  vessels  for  the 
defence  \n'  the  bays  and  rivers,  and  ax-an:-^  others  were  the 


■-mmmm-- 


ji«i 


[1813. 

)y  could  only 
ips. 

consistirig  of 

WM  expected. 

i8cciidc3d  with 

the  aftornoon, 

u  largo  foriO 

of  the  batte- 

mmanded  the 

Its  of  the  Coo 

,  and  Sunders, 

the  principal 

Breckcnridge, 

corps.    Most 

il  who  did  not 

gun-boats,  or 

vaa  discovered 
nseniond ;  and 
r  attempted  to 
they  wore  safe 
to  that  of  the 
ire,  which  was 
I,  after  having 
i  the  attempt. 
8  of  this  day, 
than  to  a  work 

onstellatioD,  as 
d  on  this  occa- 
discipline,  and 
e  been  a  pecu- 
she  rowed,  the 
fifty  feet  long, 
prisoners  were 
e  total  loss  of 
ind  marines,  is 
fire  of  the  sea< 
?ootvHg  of  rifle- 
d  it  much  too 

vessels  for  the 
there  were  the 


^mmmmtf 


JA.V. 


I»I».J 


NAVAL    HIITOR  V. 


331 


tkorpion  and  Asp.  On  (ho  14th,  thcM  two  little  oruiMra  got 
under  w(iy  from  Ihfl  Yeocomic«,  and  ttood  (jut  into  the  river, 
wh«M,  at  10  A.  M.,  ft  coiwidfirnble  forcA  of  the  «ini«tny  waa  aflm 
in  chaao.  Tho  Hcorpioii,  ou  Uiartl  of  which  *««  the  aenior 
oflkor,  immwliii'  ly  inado  a  signal  fi)r  thfl  Asp  to  net  at  diacra- 
tittn,  and  began  u)  beat  up  the  river.  The  Aap  being  a  dull 
aaiU'r,  hrr  comniander,  Mr.  Sigourney,  the  ught  it  expedient  to 
re>«ntor  tho  <reck.  lie  waa  fo'lowed  by  two  briga,  which 
aachoriMl  off  the  bar,  and  hoiatinl  iMt  ifwiir  boata.  Mr.  UU 
gnurney  now  doonnl  it  nwr«  prudtmt  to  run  higher  up  the 
Yeocomico;  and  oa  the  enemy  waa  already  pulling  in,  \h<  cut 
hia  cable  and  made  aail.  Three  boaU  aoon  aller  attacked  the 
Aap,  wM.:h  made  a  very  gnllant  defcncti,  ond  handaomeiy 
beat  theiii  off.  The  enemy,  however,  reinforced,  and  rmewed 
tbe  attack  with  ftvo  Ujola,  when  Mr.  Wigoumey  ran  th«  Aap 
00  ahore,  and  waa  boarded  by  about  WJ  men,  who  au«x3<ided 
in  carrying  her.  She  waa  act  on  Are  and  abandoned,  but  M». 
M'Clintock,  the  officer  aecond  in  command,  got  on  board  her 
ii«ain.  and  succeeded  in  extinguiahing  the  flamee.  In  thia 
albir,  Mr.  Sigourney  waa  killwl,  dying  sword  in  hand  in  de- 
fence of  hia  ve««;l,  in  «  manner  to  rellwt  the  highest  credit  on 
hia  proieaaional  training  and  personal  gallantry.  The  Asip  had 
but  two  or  three  liglit  guna,  and  a  crow  of  Kl  ooula.  Of  the 
latter,  10  were  killed,  wounded,  and  miosing :  (kc»M  that  atleal 
tbe  gallantry  of  the  defence. 

While  theee  events  were  occurring  at  the  aouth,  eoma  move* 
nmuU  ihrtber  north  brought  c.  part  of  tho  enemy's  force  within 
the  waters  of  Long  Island  Sound,  where,  with  oocB»»onal 
changes  of  ahipa,  it  continued  to  the  close  of  the  war.  After 
the  United  States  had  reHtted  at  New  York,  on  her  return 
from  the  eruiae  in  which  she  had  captured  the  Macedonian, 
Commodore  Decatur  prepared  to  soil  again,  with  the  latter 
frigate  in  compi  >y.  The  Hornet  being  about  to  go  to  se«,  at 
the  same  time,  order  to  join  the  Chesapeake,  CapUin  Law- 
rence, tho  three  veasela  got  under  way,  and  poaaed  Hell  Gate 
on  tbe  27th  of  May,  with  a  view  to  run  off  the  coiist  between 
Monlau*  and  Block  IsUnd.  It  was  June  the  1st  before  tbe 
ships  f<  Hid  an  opportunity  to  pass  through  the  Race :  but  they 
were  met  near  the  end  of  the  island  by  a  greatly  superior 
force,  and  were  chased  into  New  London.  Here  all  three  of 
llie  Teaaela  were  closely  blockaded,  nor  waa  either  of  the  frU 
gatua  able  to  get  to  sea  during  the  remainder  of  the  war,  thoogh 
oppottuoitin  were  long  and  anxioualy  sought.    In  tbe  end, 

W 


1 


■Wi'- 


399 


NAVAL    llliTORY. 


(Illi 


thttir  ofllcrr"  nml  |i«h>|iIo  wor«  traiwferrwl  ti»  otiwr  vprwN?U,  |l 
will  givo  an  ulnft  ol"  llio  grrnt  iinjH>rliiiir<)  lliut  «mghl  lo  Iw  «!• 

benxl  thai,  whil"  wouliing  ili«  thrtt*  ,\m<  ricun  vi««»«'U  which 
th«n  loy  ill  lh«  Thunit»  nixjvc  Now  l.«iul.in,  th«'  .imniy  nl»o 
had  il  in  hi"  |Htwor  to  lilockmlo  the  nwMtl  im|»orl(4Hl  i-»wUon  ih« 
ooniMipnt  «(nuwl(«l  with  tho  coiwlinK  triiil«\ 

Ai«)«t  thm  liino,  oUo,  a  ■iimll  lirig  colii-.l  tho  Viwr,  which 
Iwl  bwn  imt  into  thn  wTvioii  umlir  th«  onlcru  of  hmutcuanl 
Johu  1).  n«iil«y,  WB«  taken  by  th"  N«r<;i*iiu«  a'J,  unJcr  cir- 
ounutancc*  that  roquiro  nc»  iwrticular  dcwriittion. 

In  Jonuury,  1914,  tho  AlligRicir,  iinotlmr  •mall  achooner, 
o«»minantl«a  by  Mr.  IloMct,  a  •oilintt-rTwuitor,  wb«  lying  at 
anchor  olF  tho  coait,  Bbn-aul  of  Coki »  I»l«ml,  and  obaerving 
an  onemy'a  firigalo  and  brig,  ju«t  without  th«i  breaker*,  Mr. 
BoMBt  iUijuMtod  that  an  altrmpt  would  ln)  niaiio  on  him  in 
th«  courw  of  tho  night.  I»ro[»oration«  to  receive  tho  enemy 
wertj  madi)  accordingly.  About  half-|)««t  7  in  tho  evening,  lix 
boota  wn-ro  diacovcrod,  under  cover  of  tho  marih  grnw,  pulling 
up  with  muflW  oara.  When  near  enough,  thoy  wore  huiltHJ, 
and  «  muaket  waa  fired  at  thorn.  Tho  Iwota  now  made  a  go- 
noral  diachargo  of  muakotry  and  grupo,  which  thcAI'igator 
Immodiately  roturnod.  Tho  achoonor  then  cut  her  cable,  and 
■vailing  licraoir  uf  a  light  broo«e,  aho  waa  immediately  brought 
under  command  of  htir  helm.  Hy  this  promptitude,  Mr.  IJaa- 
Mt  auccenkMl  in  lioating  off  hia  aoanilants,  notwithatanding  the 
•choonor  aoon  after  grounded.  The  Alligator  had  2  men 
killed,  and  9  wounded,  while  tho  lowi  of  tho  enemy  waa  rinver 
known.  Tho  achoonor  hod  but  40  men  on  lx)anl,  while  the 
boala  are  thought  to  have  oontuiowl  about  100.  Of  tho  latter, 
tho  loM  muat  have  been  novcre,  or  ihoy  would  not  have  aban- 
doned the  attack  after  tho  AlKgator  hud  grounded.  Tho  firing 
oontiauod  half  an  hour,  and  the  achoonor  waa  a  good  deal  cut 
up  in  her  aaila  and  rigging.  A  largo  cutter,  that  wa«  aup- 
pooed  to  have  boon  ono  of  tho  boota  of  tho  enemy  on  thia  oc- 
ooaion,  waa  ahortly  aftor  pickod  up  on  tjKi  North  Hdisto,  much 
injured  by  ahot.  Tho  bodies  of  one  officer  and  of  a  common 
•eaman  wore  alao  found  near  by.  Tho  former  had  lost  an 
arm,  boaidoa  receiving  a  muakot-ahot  wound.  Mr.  Baaact  waa 
promotod  for  hia  gallantry. 

Tho  in>ahore  war  at  tho  aouth  waa  diatinguiahed  by  many 
other  llltio  exploita,  roaombling  thoae  already  related ;  ono  of 
which,  performed  under  tho  oyea  of  Captain  Dent,  who  com- 


(Illi 


III!.] 


NATAL    IIIITUftV. 


323 


nwadetl  •!  (^harloatiin,  ia  tlraerviiig  oi'  (Kirticular  nulica.  Al« 
thoMKh  It  will  bn  niivitnciiiK  ih«  tiiiio  In  a  imriiMl  tifinr  tlm  rkms 
uf  lh«  witr,  It  may  Im  nlatiMl  Imti',  wiiIi  n  vi«w  to  |irii«oitl  to 
thn  rfn(J(<r  niu«l  ol'  ttuNtii  i*ulotii(J  iimtanco*  of  gallantry  in  OM 
|iictun<. 

In  JniiMitry,  IN15,  whiln  ('Aptiiin  IKuil  wna  at  thu  North 
(vli*to,  hn  oMniiiiil  inliiriiiiiliMii  ilmt  n  pnrty  of  ollln'ra  mid 
iiwn,  txlon)(ini{  i<>  I'l'^  lli  liriN,  ('ii|i(iiiii  l'iilin<<r,  wna  wntitring 
un  oiiv  of  iIk'  iilaiulnor  l||i>  virinity,  luxl  ho  liinxtfi]  Mr.  Luw- 
nmca  Kfnriiy  (•>  |iriK:uviJ  outaidt',  with  thn**)  Utrgf^a,  to  cut 
thcni  otr,  vvliil)-  II  |iiirty  of  militia  (<n«li<nvtiurv«i  to  oaaail  thorn 
by  land.  'l'li*<  IriKUtn  wna  at  antluir,  out  uf  gun<«hot ;  but  on 
8<M)n  AN  ahii  |M<r(-rivi'(l  tho  lUmigii  of  tho  Atm-ricana,  ahn  lirtKl 
guna,  ttiid  iimilo  olhcr  ai|(na!a  of  riHiill,  when  two  of  IIhi  Itoals 
pulled  towunla  her,  and  n  tmdvr,  thot  coiitaiiuHl  a  atrung  party, 
■ttomptml  to  run  out  ulao.  Fortunately  the  wind  ahillfid, 
bringing  tho  llobrua  to  windward  o(  tho  Anterican  tiargea, 
but  thu  tender  to  leoward  ol'  thorn.  Diacovcring  hia  advan- 
tage, Mr.  Kcurny  <l«<ti>rm!n<;il  '.o  make  a  daah  at  thu  iatttrr,  rts- 
gardlcaa  of  tho  Irignle  and  uf  tho  two  Uiata  that  worn  |iulliag 
otr.  Tho  tlohrua,  |M'ri^iviQg  tho  dangt^r  in  which  her  tender 
waa  placed,  now  made  tho  gntaloat  cxortiona  to  aavo  her.  Hhot 
were  firod  at  Iter  own  cuttera,  to  drive  thnm  bock  to  tho  aaaUt- 
ance  of  tho  t(>ndor ;  and  n  third  liont  wa«  a^nt  from  the  frigatn 
with  tho  aamo  object.  8h«  alao  o|)onod  her  firo  on  the  Amo- 
rican  Imrgoa  with  aomo  cfllft,  one  of  hur  ahot  taking  off  the 
head  of  a  man  at  Mr.  Koarny'a  aido.  Hut  thia  gallant  oiHcer, 
diarpgardins  every  thing  but  hia  object,  laid  the  tender  aboard 
in  tho  MtoadiCMt  manner,  and  carried  hor  ofT,  directly  under  th« 

tjuna  of  tho  frigatn  to  which  alio  belonged.  Tho  ilobrua't 
aunch  waa  alao  takrn,  her  |H!0|)in  having  hurried  on  lx>ard  the 
tender  when  thn  alarm  waa  given.  Tho  latter  had  a  carroo* 
ade  and  aix  braaa  swivola  in  her,  beaidcs  other  arms. 

Mr.  Kearny  took  about  40  priaonera  on  thia  occaaion, 
Tho  Hcliriia  intercepting  hia  return,  by  tho  way  ho  had  come 
out,  ho  carried  hia  prize  to  the  South  Rdiato. 

A  few  days  later,  Mr.  Kciorny,  in  tho  launch  of  the  Hebrua, 
with  a  crew  of  S6  men,  went  out  nnd  captured  a  tender  be- 
longing to  the  Sovorn,  having  on  board  between  80  and  40 
men.  Handaomer  cxploila  of  the  sort  wore  not  performed  in 
the  war.    * 

To  thia  list  of  the  minor  conflicts,  may  be  added  an  attack 
on  gun-boat  No.  160,  commanded  by  Mr.  Paine.    Thia  officer, 


324 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


|:1814. 


•■^ 


who  then  held  tho  rank  of  '^^^"^f.^ZyTZ^^ 
number  of  coasters  from  Savannah  to  St.  Mary  ■,  wnen  an 
«J^dItion,  consisting  of  a  tender  full  of  mej.  and  ten  Imts. 
attacked  him  in  St.  Andrew's  Sound,  about  3  A.  M.  oHhe  Olh 
of  October,  1814.  After  a  short  cannonading  and  a  sharp 
dLchar^of  musketry,  that  last^-d  about  20  rmnutes,  the  enemy 
cSTnd  carried  th^  boat  by  boarding.  There  were  but  16 
merfit  for  duty  in  No.  160  at  the  Umo;  her  en  .re  comple- 
S  consisting  of  30  souls.  Mr.  Paine  was  badly  wound«^ 
Twere  t^o  of  his  people.  The  enemy  suffered  severely,  the 
ilflfpnce  havine  been  spirited  and  obstinate. 

r?hort  SiS^of  the  warfare  in  the  Delaware  property 
occurs  next.    This  bay  had  no  longer  the  importance  it  ^■ 
S  Tthe  war  of  1776.    Philadelphia  had  now  lost  the 
Set  on  of  being  the  commercial  and  political  capual  of  the 
cS^ntry ;  and  in  the  way  of  shipping,  several  ports  were  fa^ 
SSping  it.    The  enemy,  consequently,  paid  much  less 
SS  to't^  waters  than' to  those  f  the  Chesapeake,  and 
to  other  pointa  of  more  interest.    The  length  of  the  river,  too, 
X  to^he  security  of  the  places  that  he  on  >^J«nkB'  J"J 
there  was  Uttle  apprehension  of  any  senous  descert.    Still  a 
Sa  "nling  Jf  gun-boats  and  b^f  oops  had  been  equip, 
pod,  and  it  was  put  under  the  orders  of  Lieutenant  Angus,  an 

Ite  Junon  38,  and  Martin  16,  in  wtaS  No.  ISl,  Mr.  Steittl, 
ivAJi  takpn  after  a  handsome  resistance. 

The  losL  of  tie  enemy's  ships  was  7  kUled  and  12  wounded. 
No.  1'-<1  had  7  men  wounded. 


CHAPTER  XXXVn. 

In  the  summer  of  1814.  several  of  the  new  ships  were  put 
into  the  water :  among  them  were  *!»«  S'<1«P«°'*«?'*  J*V,^^ 
Guerriere  and  Java,  44  each,  and  ihe  Wasp,  Frolic  and  Pmi- 
c^k'Xps  of  war.'  The  Frolic  18,  Captain  Bambridg^.  Ijid 
I  short  caleer,  having  been  chased  and  <»Pt»«J.  ^riJe  80th 
of  April,  1814,  by  the  Orpheus  36,  Captam  Pigot,  soon  after 


[1814 

convoying  a 
'a,  when  an 
d  ten  boats, 
M.  of  the  6th 
and  a  sharp 
!8,  the  enemy 
)  were  but  16 
itiro  comple- 
jly  wounded, 
severely,  the 

rare  properly 
rtance  it  pos« 
now  lost  the 
capital  of  the 
orts  were  fast 
lid  much  less 
esapeake,  and 
the  river,  too, 
ts  banks,  and 
scet  t.  Still  a 
ad  been  equip* 
ant  Angus,  an 

an  a£fair  with 
Jl,  Mr.  Shead, 

id  12  wounded. 


ships  were  put 
indence  74,  the 
Frolic  and  Pea- 
Bainbridge,  had 
red,  on  the  20th 
*igot,  soon  after 


1314.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


325 


she  got  out.  There  wa^i  no  action,  the  Frolic  having  thrown 
most  of  her  guns  ovcrboerd  in  t'le  chase. 

The  Adams  26  had  been  cut  down  to  a  sloop  of  war  and 
lengthened,  at  Washington,  so  as  to  mount  28  guns  on  one 
dccK,  under  the  law  of  1812.  She  succeeded  in  passing  the 
enemy's  ships  in  Lynnhavci  Bay,  on  the  night  of  the  18th  of 
January,  161^,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Morris,  and 
made  a  cruise  in  the  track  of  the  enemy's  East  Indiamen  ,* 
retuniing  to  Savannah  in  April.  Quitting  this  port  early  in 
May,  bhe  went  off  the  coast  of  Ireland,  when  she  was  hard 
chased,  on  different  occasions,  by  heavy  frigatos. 

The  ship  had  now  been  near  two  .-nonths  in  a  cold,  foggy, 
damp  atmosphere,  and  the  scurvy  made  its  appearance  on 
boaitl.  So  many  men  were  laid  up  with  this  terrible  disease, 
that  Captain  Morris  deemed  it  prudent  to  go  into  port.  At  4 
A.  M.  on  the  17th  of  August,  in  very  thick  weather,  the  Adams 
ran  ashore  on  the  Isle  of  Haute,  but  was  got  off  by  lighten- 
ing. It  was  found,  however,  that  she  made  nine  feet  of  water 
in  an  hour,  and  Captain  Morris  succeeded  in  getting  her  into 
the  Penobscot,  in  Maine,  as  high  up  as  Ham^  Jen,  which  is 
several  mile^t  above  Castine. 

While  the  Adams  lay  ready  to  be  hove  out,  with  nothing  in 
her,  a  strong  expedition  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  troops  and 
vessels  of  war,  entered  the  river,  and  ascended  as  high  as 
Hampden.  A  small  ibrce  of  militia  was  as&embled,  and  a 
battery  was  mounted  with  the  guns  of  the  ship,  in  order  to  pro- 
tect  her ;  but  the  irregular  troops  giving  way,  and  leaving  the 
seamen  and  marines  exposed  in  the  rear,  the  first  without  mus- 
kets, nothing  remained  but  to  set  the  vessel  on  fire,  and  to 
make  a  retreat.  All  the  service  connected  with  the  ship  was 
performed  in  the  most  orderly  and  creditable  manner,  until  a 
part  of  the  country  was  reached  where  it  was  found  impossible 
to  subsist  thti  men  in  a  body,  on  account  of  the  distance  be- 
tween the  inhabitants,  when  the  people  were  directed  to  break 
up  into  small  parties,  and  to  make  the  best  of  their  way  to 
Portland.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  being  recorded,  that  every 
man  rejoined  his  commander,  though  a  fatiguing  march  of  two 
hundred  miles  was  necessary  to  do  so. 

The  ship  had  made  many  prizes  during  this  cruise,  most  of 
which  were  destroyed. 

While  the  Adams  viras  thus  running  the  chances  of  chases 
and  shipwreck,  the  Wasp  18,  Captain  Blakely,  sailed  from 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  on  a  cruise.  A  letter  from  Captain  Blakely 
88 


._  "^ih  ■       i^ 


326 


NAVAL   HI  8T0ET. 


[1814. 


announced  that  he  was  in  the  offing,  on  the  Ist  of  May,  1814, 
with  a  fine  breeze  at  N.  W.     He  ran  off  the  coast  without 
molestation,  and  soon  appeared  near  the  chops  of  the  English 
Channel,  where  he  began  to  repeat  the  ravages  caused  by  the 
Argus.    The  position  of  the  ship  now  exacted  the  utmost  vigi- 
lance, as  she  was  in  the  very  track  of  the  enemy.     At  a  quar- 
ter past  4  A.  M.,  on  the  28th  of  June,  1814,  the  Wasp,  then 
cruising  in  !at.  48°  36'  N.,  long.  11°  15'  W.,  made  two  sail, 
a  little  forward  of  the  lee-bcam.    The  weather  was  fine,  the 
wind  light,  and  the  water  exceedingly  smooth  for  that  sea. 
After  keeping  away  in  chase,  another  stranger  was  discovered 
on  the  weather-beam,  when  the  ship  was  immediately  brought 
by  the  wind,  in  order  to  close  with  her,  it  being  obviously  ex- 
pedient for  the  American  vessel  to  select  the  antagonist  that 
had  the  most  weatherly  position.     At  10  the  chase  showed 
English  colours,  and  began  to  make  signals.    At  noon  her  sig- 
nals were  repeated,  and  she  fired  a  gun.     The  Wasp  did  not 
go  to  quarte's  until  15  minutes  past  1 ;  and  soon  after,  believ- 
ing he  could  weather  the  chase,  Captain  Blakely  tacked.   The 
stranger  also  tacked,  and  stood  off,  no  doubt  to  preserve  the 
weather-gage.    The  Wasp  now  showed  her  ensign,  and  fired 
a  gun  to  windward.     The  enemy,  a  large  man-of-war  brig, 
gallantly  answered  this  defiance.     The  Wasp  immediately  set 
her  light  canvass  to  close,  when,  at  32  minutes  past  2,  the  en- 
emy tacked,  and  began  to  draw  near.    The  American  now 
took  in  her  light  sails,  and  tacked  in  her  turn;  the  English 
vessel  still  mamtaining  her  weatherly  position,  and  making 
sail  to  close. 

At  17  minutes  post  3,  the  enemy  was  on  the  weather-quar- 
ter  of  the  Wasp,  distant  about  sixty  yards,  when  he  fired  his 
shifting-gun,  a  twelve-pound  carronade  mounted  on  a  topgal- 
lant forecastle.  Two  minutes  later  he  fired  agnin;  and  the 
distilmrges  were  repeated  until  the  gun  had  been  deliberately 
fired  five  limes  into  the  Wasp,  at  that  short  distance,  and  in 
unusually  smooth  water.  All  this  time  the  Wasp  could  not 
bring  a  gun  to  bear ;  and  finding  that  the  enemy  drew  ahead 
very  slowly.  Captain  Biakely  put  his  helm  down,  and  made  a 
half-board,  firing  from  aft  forward,  as  the  guns  bore.  He  now 
hauled  up  the  mainsail,  and  the  two  ships  being  necessarily 
very  near,  every  shot  told.  But  the  fire  of  the  Wasp  was  loo 
heavy  to  be  borne,  and  the  brig  ran  her  aboard,  on  her  star- 
board-quarter, at  40  minutes  past  3,  her  larboard  bow  coming 
foul.    The  English  now  made  several  trials  to  enter  the  Wa»p, 


[1814. 


1814.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


327 


led  by  their  commander  in  person,  but  were  repulsed  with 
steadiness  and  without  confusion.  Two  or  three  desperate 
efforts  were  repented,  but  with  the  same  want  of  success,  when, 
at  44  minutes  post  3,  Captain  Blokcly  gave  the  order  in  turn, 
to  go  on  board  the  Englishman,  and  in  one  minute  the  flag 
of  the  latter  was  lowered.  On  the  part  of  the  enemy,  this  action 
lasted  28  minutes ;  on  the  part  of  the  Wasp,  19  minutes,  in- 
cluding the  time  employed  in  boarding. 

The  prize  was  his  Britannic  Majesty's  sloop  of  war  Rem- 
deer  18,  Captain  Manners.  The  Reindeer  was  an  ordinary 
thirty-two-pounder  brig,  but,  like  the  Peacock,  her  armament, 
when  taken,  was  of  twenty-four-pound  carronades.  She 
mounted  16  guns,  besides  the  shifting  carronade,  and  had  a 
complement  on  board  of  118  souls.  Her  loss  was  25  killed, 
and  42  wounded  ;  10  of  the  latter  dangerously.  Among  the 
slain  was  Captain  Manners ;  and  the  first  lieutenant  and  mas- 
ter  were  wounded.  The  Wasp  had  6  men  killed,  and  22 
wounded.  Two  midshipmen,  both  of  whom  subsequently  died, 
were  among  the  latter.  The  Reindeer  was  literally  cut  to 
pieces,  in  a  line  with  her  ports;  her  upper  works,  boats,  and 
spare  spars  being  one  entire  wreck.  A  breeze  sprmging  up 
next  day,  her  foremast  fell.  The  Wasp  was  hulled  six  times, 
and  she  was  filled  with  grape.  The  principal  loss  she  sustain- 
ed in  men,  however,  was  in  repelling  the  attempt  to  board. 

Captain  Blakely  put  a  portion  of  his  wounded  prisoners  on 
board  a  neutral,  and  proceeded  himself  to  I'Orient,  where  he 
arrived  on  the  8th  of  July,  with  the  remainder.  The  prize 
was  burned,  on  account  of  the  great  danger  of  recapture. 

Aftoi  a  detention  in  port  until  the  27th  of  August,  the  Wasp 
sailed  on  another  cruise.  Two  prizes  were  made  when  a  few 
days  out ;  and  on  the  1st  of  September  she  cut  a  vessel,  loaded 
with  guns  and  military  stores,  out  of  a  convoy  of  ten  sail, 
that  was  under  the  care  of  the  Armada  74;  but  was  chased 
off  by  the  enemy,  in  an  attempt  to  seize  another.  On  the 
evening  of  the  same  day,  while  running  free,  four  sail  were 
seen  nearly  at  the  same  time,  of  which  two  wejre  on  the  lar- 
board, and  two  on  the  starboard  bow.  The  latter  being  farthest 
to  windward,  the  Wasp  hauled  up  for  the  most  weatherly.  At 
7  P.  M.,  the  chase  began  to  make  signals,  with  flags,  lanterns, 
lockets,  and  guns.  These  the  Wasp  disregarded,  but  kept  stead- 
ily  approaching.  At  20  minutes  past  9,  she  had  ihe  epemy 
on  her  lee  bow,  within  hail,  and  a  gun  was  fired  into- him. 
The  shot  was  returned,  when  Captain  BUkely  put  his  helm 


I 


328 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[1814. 


up,  and  pasited  to  leeward,  under  an  appreiienflion  that  the  en- 
emy might  attempt  to  escape,  for  it  was  blowing  fresh,  and  the 
Hhip  was  runnmg  ten  knots.  This  was  easily  effected,  the  en- 
emy being  still  in  doubt  as  to  the  character  of  the  Wasp,  both 
vessels  hailing.  As  srmn  as  she  had  got  the  desired  position, 
however,  the  American  ship  poured  in  a  broadside,  and  a  warm 
engagement  commenced  at  29  minutes  past  9.  The  firing  was 
close  and  severe,  though  the  combat  had  the  usual  embarrass- 
ments of  a  night  action.  By  10  o'clock,  notwithstanding  the 
darkness  and  the  swell  that  was  on  at  the  time,  the  fire  of  the 
enemy  had  ceased,  and  Captain  Biakoly  hailed  to  ascertain  if 
he  had  surrendered.  Receiving  no  answer,  and  a  few  guns 
being  fired  on  board  the  English  vessel,  the  Wasp  poured  in  a 
fresh  broadside ;  but  at  12  minutes  past  10,  perceiving  that  the 
enemy  did  not  fire  any  longer,  he  was  again  hailed,  with  a  de- 
mand to  know  if  he  had  surrendered.  'I  he  answer  was  in  the 
affirmative,  and  the  Wasp  lowered  a  boat  to  take  possession. 
Before  the  latter  reached  the  witter,  however,  the  smoke  having 
blown  away,  another  vessel  was  seen  astern,  coming  up  fast, 
when  the  boat  was  run  up,  the  people  were  again  sent  to  the 
guns,  and  the  Wasp  was  brought  under  command,  in  readiness  to 
receive  this  second  antagonist.  At  36  minutes  past  10,  two 
.nore  sail  were  seen  astern,  and  it  became  necessary  to  aban- 
(ion  the  prize. 

The  helm  of  the  Wasp  was  now  put  np,  and  the  ship  ran 
oiT  dead  before  the  wind,  in  order  to  reeve  new  braces,  and  in 
the  hope  of  drawing  the  nearest  vessel  farther  from  her  con- 
sorts. This  vessel  continued  ths  chase,  until  she  got  quite 
neiar,  when  she  hauled  her  wind  across  the  stern  of  the  Wasp, 
delivered  a  broadside,  ond  made  stretches  to  rejoin  the  cap- 
tured vessel,  whifsh,  by  this  time,  was  firing  guns  of  distress. 
It  would  have  been  easy  for  the  second  vessel  to  run  alongside 
of  the  Wasp,  but  the  urgent  situation  of  her  consort,  probably, 
prevented  the  experiment. 

As  the  Wasp  left  her  prize  so  suddenly,  she  had  no  means 
of  learning  her  name  or  loss.  She  had  herself  but  two  men 
killed,  and  one  wounded,  the  latter  by  ^  wad ;  a  circumstance 
that  proves  the  closeness  of  the  combat.  She  wos  hulled  four 
tinws,  had  a  good  man^  grape  in  her,  and  was  much  cut  up 
aloA.  All  that  Captain  Blakely  could  state  concertiing  his 
enemy,  was  his  impression  that  she  was  one  of  the  largest 
briga  in  the  British  navy.  The  four  shot  *kat  hulled  tho  Wa^, 


1811.] 


NAVAL     HIBTORT. 


890 


weighed  each  just  8S  pounds.    She  had  many  hands  in  her 
tops,  and  otherwise  appeared  to  bo  strongly  manned. 

It  is  now  known  that  the  vossol  captured  by  the  Wasp,  wa» 
the  Avon  19,  Caplain  Arbuthnot.  The  brig  that  followed  the 
Wasp,  and  fired  into  her,  was  the  Costilian  18.  The  Avon 
was  so  much  injured  that  she  sunk,  and  it  was  with  great 
difficully  that  the  other  vessel  saved  her  people.  By  some  ac- 
counts indeed,  a  few  of  the  wounded  were  lost.  The  loss  of 
men  on  board  the  *von  is  not  accurately  known,  the  state- 
ments  varying  fron.  30  to  50.  The  vessel  was  cut  up  in  an 
extraordinary  manner.  She  is  believed  to  have  mounted  18 
thirty-two-pound  carronades,  with  the  usual  chase  guns,  and 
to  have  had  a  crew  of  120  men  in  her. 

The  action  between  the  Wasp  and  the  Avon  occurred  on 
the  Ist  of  September,  1814,  (sea-time,)  in  lat.  47°  80',  N. 
long.  11°  W.  September  thfe  12ih,  in  lat.  88°  2',  N.,  and 
long.  14°  68',  W.,  the  former  ship  took  the  brig  Three  Bro- 
thers, and  scuttled  her.  September  14th,  in  lat.  87°  22',  N., 
long.  14°  88',  W.,  sha  took  the  brig  Bacchus,  and  scuttled  her. 
September  the  21st,  in  lat.  33°  12',  N.,  long.  14°  56'  W.,she 
took  the  brig  Atalanta  8,  with  19  men.  As  this  vas  a  valua- 
ble prize,  Mr.  Geisinger,  one  of  the  midshipmen  of  the  Wasp, 
was  put  on  board  her,  and  she  was  sent  to  America.  The 
Atalanta  arrived  safely  at  Savannah,  Nov.  4th,  and  brought 
the  last  direct  intelligence  that  was  ever  received  from  the  re- 
gretted Blakely  and  the  Wasp.  Various  accounts  have  been 
given  of  the  manner  in  which  she  was  probably  lost,  but  no- 
I'jing  that  can  be  deemed  authentic  has  eve?  been  ascertained. 

An  incident  occurred  a  few  years  after  the  last  direct  intelli- 

fence  was  received  from  this  gallant  ship,  that  suddenly  and 
eenly  revived  the  interest  of  the  public  in  her  fate,  which 
had  begun  to  settle  into  a  saddened  sympathy  with  the  friends 
of  those  who  had  perished.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Acting 
Lieutenant  M'Knight,  and  Mr.  Lyman,  a  master's  mate,  both 
of  the  Bssex,  had  been  exchanged  by  Captain  HiUyar,  and 
taken  to  Rio  de  Janeiro,  in  the  Phoebe,  with  a  view  to  make 
certain  affidavits  necessary  to  the  condemnation  of  the  Ameri- 
can frigate.  Tiif  ;*•  jrentlemen,  after  remaining  some  time  in 
Brazil,  took  pa;  i  u  i  Swedish  brig  bound  to  Engkrd,  as 
the  only  nieanr-  di,^  iiiae  honie.  A  long  time  paf  «ng  without 
any  intelligence  f;  -i  i.  Mr.  M'Knight  and  his  comjAnion,  in- 
quiries were  set  oa  foot,  which  terminated  in  ascertaining  this 
ract,  and,  subsequently,  in  finding  the  muater  of  the  Swedish 
28* 


330 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[1814. 


briff,  who  proved  bv  hia  log-book  and  other  documents,  that 
ho  had  faflen  in  w'lth  the  Wasp  18,  Captain  Blakely,  when 
his  two  passengers  seized  the  occasion  to  put  themselves  unH'^r 

the  flag.* 

The  Peacock  18,  Captain  Warrington,  went  to  sea  Irom 
New  York,  in  Mr'-sIi,  1814,  and  proceeded  to  the  southward, 
as  far  as  the  Great  baacs,  cruising  in  that  vicinity  and  along 
the  Florida  shore,  to  Ca|)e  Carnaveral,  On  the  29th  of  April, 
hi  .it.  27°  47',  N.,  long.  80°  9',  W.,  three  sail  were  made  to 
windward,  under  convoy  of  a  largo  brig  of  war.  The  mer- 
chanl^  sen  h&aled  up  to  E.  N.  E.,  and  tho  sloop  of  war  edged 
away  /or  iln  American  ship.  Tho  two  vessels  were  soon 
alongside  •  -ch  other,  when  a  close  action  commenced.  The 
Peacock  received  two  thiity-two-pound  shot  in  tho  quarter  of 
her  fore-yard,  from  tho  first  broadside  of  tho  enemy,  which 
rsndered  the  head-sails  nearly  useless.  This  injury  compelled 
the  Peacock  to  fight  running  large,  and  prevented  much  ma- 

•  ExtraeUfrm  the  Journal  kept  on  board  tht  Svitdiih  brig  Admit,  during 
a  toyag»from  Rio  dt  Janeiro  touardi  Falmouth,  in  tht  year  1814. 
»  AuifUBt  83.— Loft  Rio  de  Joneiro  i  Stephen  Decatur  M'Knight,  and 
Jamei  LTman,  posienirers  for  England. 

"ocXr  guHln  fat.  Iff'  35'%.,  long.  30°  IC  W.,  m  account,  at  8 
o'clwik  in  the  morning,  digcovcrod  a  ilrange  *ail  giving  ch«»e  to  u..  and 
fired  Mveral  guns  ;  the  gaining  very  (kit.  At  half-pnst  10  o  clock  hove 
to.  and  wa»  boarded  by  an  officer  dreflkcd  in  an  t-nghgh  doctor  •  uniform, 
the  vctiel  also  hoisted  on  English  ensign.  The  officer  proceeded  to  ex. 
amine  my  ship's  papers,  &c.  &.C.,  likcwiso  the  Icttcr-bags,  and  took  from 
one  of  then-  a  letter  to  the  viotualling^officfl,  London.  Finding  1  had  tvfo 
American  officers  ?.a  pansengtrs,  he  immediately  left  the  ship,  and  went 
on  board  the  sloop  of  war :  he  shorUy  after  returned,  icok  the  American 
genUemen  with  him,  and  went  a  second  time  on  bwrd  the  sloop.  In 
Shout  half  an  hour,  he  returned  again  with  Messrs.  M'Knight  and  Lyman, 
and  they  informed  mo  that  the  veescl  was  the  United  Slates  sloop  of  war 
the  Wasp,  commanded  by  Captain  BIcaky,  or  Blake,  latl  from  France, 
where  she  had  refitted;  had  lately  s-mk  the  Rcmdeer,  English  sloop  of 
war,  and  another  vessel  which  sunk  without  their  being  able  to  save  a 
single  person,  or  learn  the  vessel'.  nai..e.-that  Messrs.  M  Knight  and 
Lvmanhad  now  determined  to  leave  me,  and  go  on  board  the  Wasp~poid 
n^  their  passages  in  dollars,  at  5«.  9d.,  and  having  taken  their  lureageon 
board  the  VVasp,  they  made  sail  to  the  southward.  Shortly  «««•'  they 
had  left,  1  found  that  Lieutenant  M'Knight  had  left  his  writing-desk  be. 
hind;  and  I  immediately  made  signal  for  the  Wasp  to  retorn,  and  stood 
toward,  her ;  they,  observing  my  sfgnals.  stood  back,  =?«"«  j'onK"";''' "™ 
Mnt  their  boat  on  board  for  the  writing-desk ;  after  which  they  sent  me  a 
log-line  Bnd  seme  other  presents,  anc  made  all  saU  m  a  direcUon  for  the 
line  ;  and  I  have  reason  to  suppose  for  the  convoy  that  pwsed  on  Ihurs. 
day  previous." 


[1814. 


1814.] 


NAV  AL    HISTORY. 


381 


nojuvring,  the  combat  being  cfrcctually  decided  by  gunnery. 
At  the  end  of  i'i  minutes,  the  enemy  struck. 

The  prize  was  II.  B.  M.  brig  Epervier  18,  Captain  Wales. 
The  Eporvier  vim  extensively  injured,  having  received  no  less 
than  45  shot  in  her  hull,  and  had  22  men  killed  and  wounded. 
Her  main-topmast  was  over  the  side,  her  main  boom  was  shot 
away,  her  foremost  tottering,  her  bowsprit  badly  wounded, 
standing  rigging  much  cut,  and  she  had  five  feet  water  in  her 
hold.  The  Peacock  received  very  little  injury  ;  that  dono  the 
fore-yard  being  the  principal  j  while  her  hull  escaped  olmost 
entirely,  not  a  round  shot  touching  it.  No  person  was  killed, 
and  only  two  men  were  wounded. 

The  Peacock  was  a  heavier  vessel  than  the  Epervier,  while, 
as  usual,  the  disparity  in  the  loss  was  infinitely  greater  than 
thot  in  the  force.  The  metal  was  nominally  the  same ;  but,  if 
the  shot  of  the  Peacock  were  as  short  of  weight  as  those  of  the 
Wusp  are  known  to  have  been,  sho  threw  at  a  broadside  only 
twenty  pounds  of  metal  more  than  her  antagonist.  The  Eper- 
vier mounted  18  thirty-two-pound  carronades,  and  it  would 
seem  had  no  chas  •  guns ;  her  crew  consisted  of  128  men. 
On  board  this  vessel  were  found  $118,000  in  sp'«ie. 

in  one  hour  after  the  retreat  from  quarters  was  beat,  the 
Peacock  had  her  fore-yard  fished,  and  in  all  respects  win 
ready  again  to  engage.  The  Epervier  struck  about  11  A.  M., 
and  by  sunset  she  was  in  a  condition  to  carry  sail.  It  was 
only  by  the  greatest  exertions,  howevui*,  that  she  was,  at  first, 
kept  from  sinking. 

Mr.  J.  B.  Nicolson,  the  first  lieutenant  o«  the  Peacock,  was 

Eut  in  charge  of  ine  prize,  with  directionij  ^;  nwke  tho  best  of 
is  way  to  Savannah.  The  southern  coast  wad  then  much 
infested  by  the  enemy,  and,  as  Captain  Warrington  knew  that 
she  was  lia'ole  to  b?  brought  to  action  at  any  moment,  he  de- 
termined to  convoy  his  prize  into  port.  On  the  evening  of  the 
29th  of  April,  or  the  day  of  the  capture,  the  vessels  made  sail, 
and  the  next  afternoon  they  were  abreast  of  Amelia  Island, 
when  two  frigates  were  discc  /ered  at  the  northward,  and  to 
leeward.  At  Mr.  Nicolson's  request.  Captain  Warrington 
now  took  all  the  prize  crew  from  the  Ep  vier  but  tbit  gentle- 
man and  sixteeii  officers  and  men,  intending  to  send  the  prize 
into  St.  Mary's,  and  to  haul  to  the  southward  with  the  Pea- 
cock, to  lead  the  enemy  off  the  coast.  This  p^^4^  succeeded, 
the  Peacock  geltini;  rid' of  the  frigate  that  chased  her  next  day. 
The  Epervi^,  while  subsequently  running  along  the  coast,  on 


333 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


(1814. 


bar  w*y  to  Savaiuiali,  howovor,  foil  in  with  the  other  Trigate, 
and  kocpiriK  cItMo  in,  in  ihuol  wntor,  tho  wind  bc'ns  light,  the 
enemy  manned  liiti  ImrXh,  nnd  irnt  thom  in  chase.  Thore  waa 
•  moment  when  tli*'  |iriM>  wns  in  gnmt  danger  of  fulling  into  tlw 
hands  ofhur  punucrM,  lor  lliu  Inniim  got  quid!  near,  in  her  wake. 
In  this  criticRl  siiuution,  .Mr.  Nicolwin  had  riMtourno  to  n  stra- 
tagem to  keep  Ihcm  oil',  llo  used  tho  trum|)ol  as  if  full  of 
men,  and  when  tho  boats  woro  tho  nearest,  ho  issuod  an  order, 
in  a  very  loud  voice,  to  mnko  a  yaw,  in  order  to  fire  a  brond- 
aide.  This  ap|)onranco  of  a  rt^adinoss  to  engage  intimidated 
the  enemy,  who  alMiulonod  his  attempt  ut  a  moment  when  he 
might  have  carried  tho  Upervior  with  little  or  no  loss.  On  the 
1st  of  May  the  brig  arrived  safely  at  Savannah,  and,  on  tho 
4th,  the  Peacock  canne  in  also.  Mr.  Nicolaon's  steadiness  and 
ingenuity  were  much  applaudinl. 

Shortly  aftor,  tho  l>oacoc-.k  sailed  on  a  cruise  for  tho  enemy's 
was,  tho  Day  of  Uisony,  tho  coast  of  Portugal,  and  among  the 
Islands,  constantly  changing  her  position  to  elude  tho  English 
tquadrons.  After  passmg  over  some  of  the  best  cruising 
gn«itid  in  the  Atlantic,  tho  ship  returned  to  New  York,  at  the 
c-iio  of  October,  without  having  fallen  in  with  an  enemy  of  a 
foroo  proper  for  her  to  engage.  She  captured,  however,  14 
aait  of  merchantmen. 

The  Preaident  44  continued  to  cruise  under  the  orders  of 
Commodore  Rodgers,  and  the  Congress  88  under  those  of  Cap- 
tain Smith,  with  a  similar  want  otsuccoss,  when  the  merits  of 
their  commanders  were  considered.  These  two  fine  frigates 
traveraed  the  Northern  Atlantic,  in  a  variety  of  directions,  in 
company  and  ain^lv,  and  yet  it  was  never  the  good  fortune  of 
either  to  flill  in  with  an  enemy,  that  could  be  brought  to  ac- 
tion. Tho  latter  diip  even  went  south  of  the  equator,  and 
one  of  her  eniisea  extended  to  eight  months ;  but  her  luck  did 
not  vary. 

In  one  of  his  cruises  Commodore  Rodgers  captured  an  ene- 
my*! man-of-war  schooner,  called  tho  Highflyer,  drawing  her 
under  his  guna  by  an  artifice,  and  this  was  the  only  English 
man-of-war  that  he  took  during  his  command  of  this  ship. 


[1814. 


1814.]  WAVAL    HIBTORY. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIH. 

It  would  exceed  the  limit,  of  a  work  of  ihi.  nature,  to  enter 
into  a  minute  relation  of  nil  th«  Hkirmmhea  to  which  the  predt- 
to  y  wwfure  of  the  English,  in  the  Chcsapc-ake,  gave  ruje;  but 
U  iJ  duo  to  the  ofliccm  and  men  employed  nguui»t  them,  to 
ftirniHh  an  outline  of  their  «irvice«.     On  various  .ccoMon., 
Sies  f!om  the  -hips  had  conflict-  with  the  detached  inilitia 
SJa^d  citizens,  wl>  were  frequently  .ucce«ful.     Although 
it  U  a  little  antici|.«lin«  events,  .t  may  be  "^^n"""***  »'°~V*»^ 
n  one  of  these  ikirmmhoa.  Captain  Sir  Peter  Parker,  of  the 
Mcnelaus,  wa-  killed,  and  his  party  dr.v.m  off  to  its  "hip.  Jn 
Sv^l  other  iastances.  capture,  we«  made  of  boats  and  th«r 
crews ;  .  ho  people  of  the  country  frequently  displaying  a  cooU 
n^  and  imllon  ry  thai  were  worthy  of  trained  soldiers.     On 
STwholerhowever.  the  vast  superiority  of  the  «H3my  in  num- 
bTni  and  his  ability  to  choose  his  time  and  place  of  attwk, 
P  tto  E.^liah  the  advantage,  and  theu  .ucc«s  wn.  usually 

""S^^'-rnment  had  equipped  a  targe  AoUlla,  to  protect 
tho«>  waters,  the  command  of  which  was  ^.ven  to  t-^P'-  J^""; 
Ky.  the  officer  who  so  much  distiiiKUisheci  himself  by  the 
cptuii  of  the  Monk,  during  the  war  ot  the  revolution 

?he  presence  of  Captain%amev.  flotilla  compelled  the  ene. 
my  to  rr^re  guardJd,  and  his  sniall  ye«el.  became  caut^us 
Siut  appr^mcl^g  the  shallow  waters  m  «»"»;  °' r,]tft 
wSs.     On  the  ist  of  June,  this  acUve  and  bold  «f««' ^ 
the  Patuxent,  with  the  Scorpion,  two  gun-boats,  and  several 
We  torges.  in  cha-e  of  two  schooners.     He  was  clo«ng  li^ 
byTneanTof  sweeps,  when  a  large  ship  was  d.seovered  to  the 
wu  hward.    Just  at  this  moment  the  wmd  shifted,  hnnyng 
Se^*my  to  windward,  blowing  fresh  and  »««r'°8 '^^^'jl 
SiKnai  wL  made  for  the  flotilla  to  return  to  the  P«^»?»;J" 
tKatter  was  particularly  unfavourable  for  that  d^np^n 
of  force,  and  theVhip  proved  to  be  a  two-decker     On  «^- 
Ling  the  river,  the  wind  came  ahead,  ^''^^J^.^'K 
begi  to  sweep  up  under  the  weather  shore.    One  of  he  tetter 
SS^in  ,or.K>  danger.  Captain  Barney  «""^l»°'rJ;:'f^^S'; 
pion  and  the  other  boats,  and  opened  i  fire,  which  immediately 


fM 


m'm'iy  I 


334 


NAVAL    HIBTORY. 


(1114 


drovo  llio  nnomy'«  sohoonorn  oiil  of  tho  river.  On  thii  occa- 
ition,  tho  Miigliith  inmlmd  a  barg**  in  I'ront  which  htgnn  to  throw 
Conurttvo  riH-kota.  Hy  Ihiacimay,  it  wa>i  found  tliit  thu  ruckuta 
could  be  thrown  further  than  «hot,  but  that  th<>y  could  nut  ba 
directed  with  any  rt>rtainty.  Tlw  xhipof  the  lino  anchored  at 
tho  nuHith  of  the  I'atuxent;  tho  enemy's  barges  kept  hovering 
about  it,  ond  tho  Amoricon  flotilla  wm  ui«  h^rud  about  throo 
miloN  within  tho  rivor. 

Between  tho  4th  and  8th  of  June,  the  enemy  wu«  joined  by 
•  rasee  and  a  sltH)p  of  war,  when  Captiiin  uurney  removed 
his  flotilla  up  tho  rivor,  to  the  mouth  oi  Ui,  Leonard's  crook. 
On  tho  morning  of  tho  6th,  the  British  woro  con  coming  up 
Iho  river,  tho  wind  being  fbir,  with  a  ship,  a  brig,  two  schoon- 
ers, and  fiflocn  barges,  which  induced  Captain  Ifairney  to  iitove 
up  tho  St,  lioonard's  aliout  two  miles,  when  ho  onehort^d  in  a 
lino  abreast,  and  pnijmrcd  to  receive  an  attack.  Vt  8  A.  M. 
tho  ship,  brig,  and  schooners  anchored  at  tho  mouth  of  tho 
creek,  and  tno  bargoa  entered  it,  with  the  rocket-boat  in  ad- 
vance. 

Captain  Ikirncy  now  loA  the  Scorpion  and  tho  two  gun-boatf 
at  anchor,  and  got  his  barges,  1.1  in  nuinlwr,  under  way,  when 
tho  enemy  retreated  towards  their  vessels  outride.  In  the  af- 
ternoon, tho  same  manojuvro  wos  rcpeotcd,  the  enemy  throw* 
ing  a  few  rockets  without  effect. 

On  the  ailernoon  of  tho  9th,  tho  shin  of  tho  line  having  sent 
up  a  party  of  men,  tho  enemy  entereu  the  creek  again,  with 
20  barges,  but  nflcr  a  sharp  skirmish  he  retired.  Tho  object  of 
those  demonstrations  w(  a  probably  to  induco  the  Anraricans  to 
burn  their  vessels,  or  to  venture  out  within  r«;ach  of  the  guns 
of  the  ships  ,*  but  '.he  flotilla  was  commanded  by  an  omvt 
much  too  experienced  and  steady  to  be  Hjrced  into  cither  mea- 
sure without  suflicicnt  reason.  On  the  Uth,  a  still  morn  seri- 
ous attempt  was  made,  with  21  bnrges,  having  the  two  schoon- 
ers in  tow.  Captain  Barney  met  them  again,  and,  after  a 
sharper  encounter  than  before,  drovo  thi  .\  down  upon  their 
lar^r  vessels.  On  this  occasion,  the  pursuit  was  continued, 
until  the  ros^,  which,  by  this  time,  had  ascended  the  Patuxeiit, 
and  tho  brig,  opened  a  fire  on  tho  Americans.  In  this  aflTair, 
the  Snglish  arc  thought  to  have  suflered  materially,  especially 
one  of  the  schooners.     A  shot  also  struck  the  rocket-boat. 

Some  small  works  were  now  thrown  up  on  the  shore,  to 
protect  the  American  flotilla,  and  the  blockaiide  continued.  In 
the  mean  time,  Captain  Miller,  of  the  marine  crrps,  joined  the 


[tail 


1811] 


NATAL    IfliTOar 


885 


A(»<illa.  and  a  r'^riderablo  force  of  miUtin  was  cdtecl«H  u»<l«f 
Colonel  Wttilh  ,rth,  of  tho  onlnancfl  i^rvir.'.  'IV  .•ricmy 
had  nlio  brouaht  a  (nanUs,  in  addilioii  l«.  tho  Tun6i\  off  tho 
mouth  of  tho  cwk.  Th«  laruotl  of  thoiw  visuwU  wiw  b^ 
liovod  to  to  the  S«vorn,  and  tho  aniallpiit  tho  N«rci«MU«  33. 
On  tho  "iOth,  nv  ottcnrii)n  wan  rnado  by  the  unil«.d  I'orco  ol  the 
Anwricanii  to  luiio  the  hkxjkudc.  'I  ho  cniinouadu  was  «'loiC, 
for  tho  upncUm  of  forco  oni(.loytHl,  and  it  laiitwl  two  houra, 
when  the  Hovcrn  cut,  and  woa  nm  on  a  wuul.lmnk  to  jmiyont 
hor  ainking.*  It  i«  aaid  that  a  raking  ahot  n|)|H«d  a  plank  Irom 
hor  bow,  and  niacod  hor  in  imminent  danger.  Hhortly  aflor, 
in  comuany  with  tlw  Narciasus,  sho  dropiw,'^!  down  tho  river, 
tnd  wont  into  tho  bay.  In  this  handaonw  alfair,  tho  flotilla 
loat  18  men  in  killed  and  wounded;  but  it  cffiirtually  raiicd 
tho  blockade,  and  induced  (ho  enemy  to  bo  more  coutioua. 

Tho  portion  of  the  flotilla  that  wa«  in  tho  Patux«nt,  r«« 
mainod  in  that  river  until  tho  iniddio  of  August,  when  tho 
enemy  commenco<l  that  aerioa  of  movcnicnta,  which  terminated 
in  hia  advance  upon  Washington.  On  the  lOth,  Captain  Bar- 
ney received  intelligence  that  the  British  wore  coming  up  the 
Patuxcnt  in  force,  when  lie  aent  an  exproaa  to  the  navy  de- 
partment  for  inatructiona.  The  answer  waa  to  land  tho  men, 
and  join  tho  army  that  waa  hurriedly  aaeemblinp  for  tho  de- 
fence of  the  coast,  under  General  Winder,  and,  if  proaaed,  to 
bum  the  flotilla. 

On  the  aist,  the  news  waa  received  that  tho  enemy  had 
landed  a  force  of  four  or  five  thousand  men  at  Benedict,  and 
that  he  was  marching  in  tho  direction  of  tho  capital.  Captain 
Barney  immediately  landed  400  of  hia  party,  leaving  tho  vee- 
■els  in  charge  of  Mr.  Frazier,  with  ordera  to  sot  firo  U»  them, 
if  attacked,  and  to  join  tho  main  body  with  as  little  delay  as 
possible.  Tho  next  day  this  order  was  executed,  a  strong  de- 
tachment of  seamen  and  marines  approaching  the  flotilla  to 

attack  it. 

On  the  22d,  Captain  Barney  joined  the  assemblage  of  armed 
citizens,  that  was  called  an  anny,  at  tho  Wood- Yard.  Tho 
next  day  he  marched  into  Washington,  and  took  up  his  quar. 
ters  in  the  marine  barracks. 

After  a  gocwl  deal  of  uncertainty  concerning  the  movements 
of  the  enemy,  it  was  understood  he  waa  marching  directly  oa 
Washington,  and  that  it  waa  intended  to  fight  him  at  Bladenn 

MMoats  this  ship  waa  ths  Loira. 


386 


NAVAL    HlfTORV. 


(I«I4. 


burgh.     Th«  flf)liiin-mnn  ami  inarliiu*  kti  thfi  Yard  ita  X\va 
iiioruli>f(  of  »!•«'  ''^•h  i  '''i^^y  wrrivr.l  »t  the  l«Ml«.gnniiul  on  a 
lrt)«,  dUil  wun)  imnHHlmUily  druwii  t's»  oUiiit  n  rnilo  to  Ihn  w«'iH 
»if  HUiliiwburjjh,  holdmu  ihn  wiilrti  n(  <J«'ncral  Winil«!r'»  ih>. 
■ittun.     Art«r  n  »\Ml  nkiriiiUh  in  (r«>nt,  wlwim  lh«»  <Bnotiiy  ■uf. 
ftml  i«>v..rtily  in  cr.«ti»K  n  \>tu\M},  {\w  militia  liiU  b»fk,  ttnU 
tho  hrili»h  colUMUW  niHKsnrr.l,  (ulhwing  thu  iin»>  of  tlw  public 
rottd.     Tbo  ontiro  fur«  o  of  lh«i  llotilln-iwn  an<l  rimrun'«,  wb« 
ttbrMjt  ft<M» !»»'» I  ni"l  'l>«y  >•"•'  '*'»  «'i«l>'«""'«. ""''  """'  '«"•'*"* 
uoumlrr*.  •»»!••«  guM«,  niouiiK-J  on  truvulling  c^rringcs.     Can. 
loin  HuriMiy  i«»ok  commiiud  of  tho  artillory  in  |»«r««ni,  while 
Cuplttin  Millor  hiuJ  the  cliit|KMitlio»  of  iho  n)nmin<Ior  of  tho  two 
iiartica,  who  woro  ntmM\  an  infantry.     Tho  miirintH,  7H  inert 
in  all,  lorinotl  a  liii«  iinim'«littt«ly  on  tim  ri^ht  of  tho  «ijn», 
whilo  370  of  tho  aomnon  wort)  (Irnwn  up  n  littlt^  in  tho  rear, 
and  on  tho  riaht  flank  of  III"  marino.,  on  ground  that  iKmiit. 
tiHl  thorn  to  llro  ovor  tho  Ivrudii  of  tho  latter.     Although  th* 
troopa  thnt  woni  fulling  liii'k  di<l  not  halt,  ('uptain  Hnrncy  hold 
hia  iKwition  j  and  nn  acKin  lu  lh«  enemy  began  to  tlm)w  r<M'k«'t«, 
ho  oponod  on  him  with  u  ahnrp  diwhnrgo  of  round  and  griipo. 
Tho  column  waa  «tnggoro«l,  mid  it  Immodialoly  gave  ground. 
A  aocoiid  ottompl  to  advance  wu»  ropulnod  in  the  anmo  man* 
nor,  when  tho  onomy,  who.na  yet,  had  Imon  able  to  look  down 
roaialanco  by  advancing  atcadily  in  column,  was  obliged  to 
mttko  an  obliquo  movomont  to  hia  lofl,  into  Homo  <»pc>n  held*, 
and  to  diaplay.     H«ro  ho  throw  out  a  brigade  of  light  troops, 
in  open  order,  and  advanced  in  bcautiflil  itylo  upon  tho  com- 
mand of  Cuplain  Mori.oy,  whilo  tho  head  of  a  atrong  w)luimn 
waa  aeon  in   reacrvo  in  a  copao  in  ita  rear.     Captain  Miller, 
with  tho  marinea,  and  that  portion  of  tho  acamen  who  acted  aa 
inflintry,  mot  tho  charge  in  tho  moat  steady  and  gallant  man- 
ner,  and  after  a  short  cof>fliot,  drove  tho  Britiah  light  troops 
back  upon  their  aupnorting  column.     In  thia  conflict  tho  hng- 
liah  commanding  olVuor,  in  advance.  Colonel  Thornton,  with 
hia  Bocond  and  third  in  rank,  Lieutenont  Colonel  Wood,  and 
Major  Urown,  wero  all  wounded,  and  loft  on  tho  field.    Th« 
marinoa  and  seamen  manifoatcd  tho  utmost  steadinoas,  though 
it  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  tho  light  troops  brought  up 
in  thoir  firtint,  amounted  to  obout  600  men. 

There  can  bo  no  question,  that  a  couple  of  regular  regi- 
ments would  now  have  given  the  Americans  tho  day  ;  but  no 
troopa  romainod  in  lino,  except  tho  portv  under  Captain  Bar- 
ney, and  two  detochmonUi  on  hia  right,  that  were  well  posted. 


(1114. 

'avA  on  th« 
( mil  ml  on  a 

til  ih<i  w«<iit 
V'iii<i<!r'«  |H>- 
lenoiny  iul'- 
I   iMick,  Ullli 
if  t\\v  public 
mniK'ii,  WBM 
hfiK)  iwf'lvi)- 
iig«'«.     Can- 
trwiii)  whilo 
r  of  th«  two 
m'K,  7M  incn 
)i'  thn  HUM, 
in  tht!  nmr, 
thai  pt'finit. 
Although  (ho 
FInrncy  Mti 
in>w  r<M^kt!ta, 
d  and  ^rnpo. 
;rvo  ground. 
I)  anine  mnn< 
to  look  down 
IS  oliligod  to 

open  ficlda, 
light  troops, 
)on  the  com- 
irong  cx)lumn 
aptnin  Miller, 
who  nctod  an 
gulliuit  man> 
I  light  troops 
flict  tho  Kng* 
hornlon,  with 
bI  Wood,  and 

0  field.  The 
linoHN,  though 
la  brought  up 

rofifular  regi* 

1  day  ;  but  no 
Captain  Bar- 

>  well  poated. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/. 


O 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


■-l£S  121 

•^  122    1 2.2 

:?  iii  lllllio 


18 


1-4    IIIIII.6 


-> 


Photographic 

Sdraices 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTSB.N.Y.  74580 

(7.6)872-4503 


I 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IWicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microreproductlons  liistoriquas 


IT 


1814] 


NATAL    HIBTOaV* 


337 


Having  been  so  rouehly  handled,  the  enemy  made  no  new 
attempt  to  advance  Erectly  in  front  of  the  Beamen  and  «na. 
rinea,  but,  after  forcing  the  troops  on  their  nght  from  the  field, 
by  a  demonatration  in  that  direction,  they  prepared  to  turn  the 
rear  of  Captain  Bamev,  in  order  to  surround  him.     while 
these  movements  were  going  on  in  front,  and  on  the  right  of 
the  Americans,  a  party  of  light  troops  had  been  thrown  out 
on  the  enemy's  right,  and  the  miliUa  havmg  abandoned  the 
mound,  they  were  also  beginning  to  close  upon  the  Americana 
that  stood.    By  this  time,  Captain  Barney,  Captam  Miller,  and 
several  other  oflicers  were  wounded ;  and  victory  bemg  impoa- 
■ible,  against  odds  so  great,  an  order  was  given  to  commence 
a  retreat.    The  defence  had  been  too  obstinate  to  admit  of  car- 
rvina  oflf  the  guns,  which  were  necessarily  abandoned.    AH 
the  men  retii^l,  with  the  exception  of  the  badly  w«jnded; 
among  the  latter,  however,  were  Captain  Barney  and  Captam 
MUle^  who  both  fell  into  tho  enemy's  hands.    The  loss  of  the 
latter  in  front  of  the  seamen  and  marines,  was  neat  800  inen, 
in  kUled  and  wounded.    Of  the  marines,  nearly  one-third 
were  among  the  casualtiea ;  and  the  flotilla-men  sufleied  con- 
siderably,  though  in  a  smaller  proportion. 

The  people  of  the  flotilla,  under  the  orders  of  Gaptam  Bar^ 
ney,  andthe  muines,  were  justly  applauded  for  their  ex^lent 
conduct  on  this  occawon.    No  troops  could  have  stood  better; 
and  the  fire  of  both  artillery  and  musketry  has  been  described 
as  to  the  hut  degree  severe.    Captain  Barney  himself,  and 
Captain  MUler.of  the  marine  corps,  in  particular,  gained  much 
ad^tional  i«putatioa ;  and  their  oonspicuoiBi  gallantry  cawed 
adeepand  general  regret,  that  their  eftata  could  not  have  been 
lastainedbytherestoftheamiy,   .  ^   ^.  _        _fl^i^ 
As  the  enemy  took  possession  of  Washington,  a  pwftcay 
defenceless  straggling  town  of  some  «8|»,?f  «>>"•  V"*™ 
inhalHtants,  that  evesdng,  and  a  oonsidUUie  lorce  m  sWOb 
was  ascending  the  FMomac,  it  was  thought  necessary  to  de- 
gtioy  the  pubfic  property  at  the  navy  yard.    At  that  time,  a 
IHgata,  of  the  first  class,  called  the  Columbia,  wm  on  Ae 
stmks ;  and  the  Argus  18,  and  Lynx  12,  had  not  taig  been 
launched.    A  smaU  quantity  of  stores  and  ammunitioa  bad 
been  removed,  but  on  the  night  of  the  24th,  fire  was  oommu- 
nioaied  to  the  remainder,    ft  is  diflteult  to  say  why  the  ves- 
tela  aikiat  were  not  scuttled,  a  measure  thafr  ''W"*^™?^ 
aUdwwi  of  their  bnng  wlaed,  as  it  wouM  have  been  unposaiblB 
lor  dM  enemy  to  ii^n  ships  in  thai  state,  and  equaUy  ao  to 
28 


.^ 


r 


JBIPJIIWW«WW" 


-'>  '■■•■■f^Sr^ 


338 


NAVAL   K18T0RT. 


pei4. 


!• 


'/ 


ramov<!)  tltwin.  Indeed  the  eipedieocy  of  setting  fire  to  any 
thing  bus  been  queationed,  ainoe  the  enemy  himaelf  could  not 
veryuMily  htvedonemore.  It  is, however,  jiut to retaember,  that 
the  sudden  letre&t  of  the  English  could  not  have  been  foraseen, 
and  that  they  had  a  oommandiii:g  naval  force  in  the  Potomac. 
The  loea  in  veseela  was  not  great ;  the  Columbia  44,  on  the 
■tocko,  and  the  Argus  18,  being  the  only  two  destroyed  tiiat 
were  of  any  value.  The  Lynx  escaped ;  and  it  would  seem 
that  the  enemy  was  in  too  great  a  hurry  to  do  her  any  injury. 
On  this  occasion,  the  Boston  36  was  burned ;  but  the  sh.'p 
had  been  previuu^y  condemned.  The  hulk  of  the  New  York 
80  escaped ;  but  all  the  naval  storea  wera  '^tmmtmad. 

To  aid  in  resisting  these  descents  whidi  wm  believed,  at 
the  time,  to  be  made  by  a  forot  greatly  exoeeding  that  actually 
emnbyed,  the  oflkers  and  men  of  the  navy,  wno  were  in  the 
vioini^,  were  ooUeoted  on  the  shores  of  the  Cbesapc«k«. 
Ciommodore  Rbdgers,  «.ith  the  crew  «f  tha  Ouerriere  44,  then 
nearly  ready  for  sea,  was  withdrawn  from  Philadelphia;  Cap- 
tain Perry,  of  the  Java  44,  which  ship  was  fitting  at  Baltimore, 
and  Captain  Porter,  with  other  gentlemen  of  tM  service,  had 
beoB  actively  employed  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac,  in  en> 
deavottring  to  a<teroept  the  return  of  the  British  ships  that  had 
asotoded  to  Akzandria ;  a  dutjr  that  could  not  be  efiected, 
hawever,  for  want  of  means  and  time.  The  guna  at  command 
were  altogether  too  light.  Some  fighting  ooeurved.  Several 
gallant  attampts  with  fire-shipa  veztt  maide,  but  the  enemy'i* 
movementa  fceie  too  rapid,  to  allow  of  the  necessanr  piepara-  . 
tions  in  a  country  so  thinly  settled,  and  ahnost  dewtute  of 
military  suppCes.  In  the  oourse  of  this  snvioe,  Coqimodore 
Bodgers  repelled  an  attack  on  a  small  party  of  less  than  f  0 
0MO,  that  was  made  by  the  enemy  in  an  attennt  to  cut  off  a 
Bffhtor  and  a  fire^veaaal,  on  which  ocoasioB»  Mr.  Neweomb, 
m.  Rumgfii  Mr.  Fomst,  and  Mr.  f^ookton,  at'tke  Guerriere, 
w«re  conapMnoMrfy usefiil.  These  gentlemeo were  alsoaottve 
in  eodenvounnffta  fire  the  enemy's  wips,  though  unanooeasfiiL 
Moat  of  these  oiken,  and  all  their  men,  were  ordered  to  Bahi- 
BKWB,  when  that  town  was  threatened. 

BnltiQon  was  a  much  more  formidable  plaee  to  assail  than 
Washington,  being  ooinpact,  and  containing,  at  that  time,  more 
thaa  40,000  aows.  its  water  deAnoea  were  reapeetable, 
thoi^  it  bad  no  other  fintifieatioos  on  the  side  <tf  the  land, 
thaa  taOMwnu^  bveastwwka  of  earth.  The  ^eantac,  both 
of  the  ■bips  or  wtr'Mid  of  the  flotilla,  with  tiw  ■nriMa  pi» 


■"•^  ^'lii  I  -  lii'T^^ftjiiVrtfii'lt'iif    ^  ^..-.-^t.j^^aiifc)it,jgiy 


MiAiM^iiiiiiBia 


Miiiiinffiiii 


[1^4. 


1814.] 


NAVAL   HltTOKT. 


339 


wnt,  wera  all  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Rodgert, 
who  made  a  judicioiu  diapoaition  of  his  force. 

The  enemy  landed  early  on  the  lath  of  September,  near  a 
place  called  North  Point.  While  thia  was  efSwting,  the  British 
frigates,  sloops,  and  bomb-vessels,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Nourse,  of  the  Severn,  proceeded  up  the  Patapsco, 
with  a  view  to  cannonade  and  bombard  the  water  defences  of 
the  town.  Vice-Admiral  Cochrane,  and  Rear-Admiral  Mal- 
colm, were  with  this  equadron.  A  brigade  of  seamen  accom-  j 
panied  the  army,  under  Captain  Crofton.  With  this  party  > 
Rear-Admiral  Cockbum  landed  in  person.  The  troops,  as  at 
Washington,  were  led  by  Miyor  Gmieral  Roes. 

Afler  proceeding  about  five  miles,  a  sr*  > «'  advanced  party 
of  the  looU  militia  momentarily  checked  ihe  march  of  the 
enemy,  AUing  back,  agreeably  to  orders,  when  it  found  iiaelf 
•bout  to  be  surroundetL  In  the  trifling  skirmish  that  oocurrsd 
at  thia  spot,  Blajor  Graeral  Rosa  vnui  killed.  A  sharper  en- 
counter  took  place  sh'  rtly  afler,  in  which  the  Americans  had 
•bout  IfiOO  men  engaged.  On  thia  occasion,  the  militia  had 
94  men  killed*  and  139  wounded.  They  lost  also,  1  oflicer 
and  49  privates,  prisoners.  According  to  the  accounts  of  the 
enemy,  he  lo^  in  both  affiura,  390  in  killed  and  wounded. 
Shortly  after  the  aeotmd  skirmbh,  the  English  retreated  to  the 
place  of  ddmrkatioD,  and  abandoned  the  enterprise.  The 
armed  oitiiens  of  Baltimore  and  its  vicinity,  composed  the  force 
diatmrt  the  enemy  on  this  occasion. 

The  attack  by  water  was  equally  unsuccessful.  Fort 
MlIeoi7  was  bombarded  for  twenty-four  hours,  without  making 
any  senous  impression  on  it.  A  small  battery  in  advance, 
manned  by  officers  and  men  of  the  ilotilla,  although  much  ex- 
posed, returned  the  fire  to  the  laat.    In  the  course  of  the  night, 

•  strong  brigade  of  boats  pushed  into  the  Ferry  Branch,  and 
would  have  gained  the  harbour,  had  it  not  been  received  by  • 
warm  flra  finMO  Forta  Covington  and  Baboook,  aa  well  as  fWun 
the  baiges  of  the  flotilla.  The  defence  was  found  to  be  too 
obatiaate,  and  the  enemy  retreated.  Fort  Covinoton  was 
nwooad  by  80  seamen  of  the  Ouwriere,  undnr  Mr.  Newcomb, 

•  very  excellent  young  ofBoer  of  that  diip ;  and  Mr.  Webster, 
a  seilWinaater,  with  00  nan  of  the  flotilla,  was  in  the  six- 
gun  battery  caUed  Babooek.  The  barna  were  under  the 
oi4en  of  UeMBt  Hotter,  the  senior  officer  pmnm  in  that 
bnneli  of  tin  servioa.    AU  thMS  genUenao,  and  their  several 


ii 


840 


RATAL    miTORT. 


(1814 


comiMnd*.  dktinfuiBhed  therowlvw  by  their  trteadincM  wmI 
efficiency. 

The  berfee,  in  perticular,  though  expoMd  for  newly  •  dey 
>Mm1  a  night  to  the  ehelle  end  rocket*  of  the  enemy,  nwintuned 
their  poeition  with  unflinching  firmneee,  end  when  more  oloeely 
■ttwked,  repelled  the  attempt  with  ewe.  At  a  moat  critical 
moment,  several  veasela  were  sunk  in  the  channel,  which  would 
have  completely  prevonted  the  enemy  iVom  bringing  up  hi* 
heavy  ship*,  had  he  leen  fit  to  attempt  it.  The  duty  wai  ^vi- 
formed  with  coolneae  and  expedition  by  Captain  Spence. 

This  (Ulure  virtually  terminated  the  warfiue  in  the  CheN' 
peake,  the  enemy  ehortly  after  collecting  moat  of  hia  force*  at 
the  south,  with  a  view  to  make  a  still  nior«  aeriou*  attempt  on 
New  Orleana.  Small  predatory  expedition*,  however,  con- 
tinued in  thi*  quarter,  to  the  close  of  the  war,  though  they  led 
to  no  icault*  of  auAcient  importance  to  be  mentioned.  Thi* 
warfon  wa*  generally  beneficial  to  the  Anwrican  govemmem ; 
the  exoeaaea  into  which  the  enemy  were  led,  whether  inten- 
tionally or  not,  having  the  eflhct  to  di*gu*t  that  portion  of  the 
population  whksh  had  been  aerkKiely  averse  to  the  conflict ; 
and  the  admicistration  wa*  probably  never  stronger,  than  after 
the  wanton  deatruotion  of  the  public  bailding*  at  Washington. 
About  thi*  tikne,  Captain  Barney  waa  exchanged,  and  he  re- 
aumed  hia  former  command,  lea*  than  half  of  hi*  flotilla  having 
been  destroyed  in  the  Patoxent. 


^  CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

'  Ttm  movemoita  in  the  Chesapeake  wan  made  by  a  force 
that  wa*  M*emhled  for  other  and  greater  otject*.  The  prin- 
cipal enedition  c^the  year  waa  not  ooBunedoed  until  near  the 
ckMe  of  the  aeaaoa,  when  Admiral  Cochrane,  after  oolkoting, 
in  the  difibrenl  ialanda,  a  larn  nrmber  of  ahipa  of  war,  trana- 
ports,  aMl  ator»>v«ssel8,  suddenly  appeared  eft  the  month  of 
die  Misaissbpi.  Thi*  wa*  at  the  oonmanoeaent  i^Daoerober, 
1814,  and  left  no  doubt,  of  a  dengn  to  maka  a  fonnidable  at- 

.'  tempt  on  the  importsot  town  of  Now  Orieana.     - 

The  defence*  of  the  plnct,  with  the  exception  of  aome  va* 


y^^ 


i^ 


■     -^-   ....  .-.-^--^— -^-.^.a^— >_— M..* 


■« 


ftlM. 
liMM  and 

url^  •  day 
iminfiiMid 
>i«  oloMly 
•t  cfitical 
lieh  would 
ng  up  hk 
y  waiTDf. 

theCheW' 
•  foroM  tt 
Kttompt  on 
ever,  ooo- 
[hthsyled 
led.  This 
venuMnt; 
Jier  iiiten< 
tkmof  the 
e  eonfliot; 
,  than  after 
^achington. 
and  hera- 
tUla  having 


byaibrae 
Tteprin- 
itUaaartiie 
oollMting, 
waT)  ttana* 
)  moath  of 
'Dwseinber, 
fliidaUbat* 

)f  aoiBBfa- 


1814.1 


NAVAL    HIITORT. 


341 


ipoctable  rortifioationa  that  command^  tha  river,  were  of  a 
very  trifling  nature.  The  latter  were  rormidabie,  and  they 
lendeied  it  neoeeaary  to  make  either  a  dewxmt  iu  aome  of  the 
bayoux,  by  means  of  boatti,  or  to  destroy  the  worka  bv  bom* 
bardment.  Aa  the  Uter  required  time,  which  would  allow  the 
Americans  to  aaaemble  a  force  to  resist  the  InTasioo,  and  was 
of  doubtfiil  issue,  the  former  project  was  adopted. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  when  the  enemy's  fleet  first  mode 
its  appearance  off  the  entrance  of  Lake  Borgne,  a  division  of 
five  gun-boau  waa  in  that  bay,  under  the  command  of  Mr. 
Thomaa  Ap  Catesbv  Jones,  then  a  young  sea-lieutenant.     Aa 
soon  aa  apprised  of  the  appearance  of  the  enemy,  Mr.  Jones 
raoonnoitred  his  force,  and,  having  ascertained  ita  stren^h,  be 
retired  higher  mto  the  bay,  with  a  view  to  take  a  poaition  to 
commandthe  approaohea  towarda  the  towr..    There  were  se. 
veral  small  forta,  either  at  the  entrance  of  Lake  Poachartrain, 
or  at  the  mouth  of  difierent  bayous,  or  creeks,  that  put  up  into 
the  low  swampy  grounds  below  New  Orleans,  and  it  was  the 
intentkm  of  Mr<  Jones  to  eoohor  near  one  of  them,  at  a  place 
called  lea  Petites  Coquiltes.    His  vessels  consisted  merely  of 
gun-boata.  No.  6,  oommandfid  by  Mr.  Ferris,  a  sailing-master, 
and  mounting  6  guns,  with  a  crew  of  86  men ;  No.  28,  Acting 
Lieutenant  M'Keever,  0  guns  and  89  men ;  No.  166,  Lieu* 
tenant  Commandant  Jones,  5  guna  and  41  men;  No.  16.^, 
Acting  Lieutenant  Spedden,  6  guna  and  80  men;  and  No.  168, 
Mr.  Ulriok,  a  saUing-master,  8  guns  and  31  men ;  making  a 
united  force  of  38  guns  and  168  men.   The  metal  varied,  some 
of  the  boato  having  two  long  heavy  ^ns,  others  but  one,  and 
all  having  two  or  three  abort  lighter  pieces.  The  vesspls  thein- 
selves,  like  all  gun>boats,  were  k>w,  easy  of  entrance,  stow  ui 
thdr  movements,  and  totally  without  quarters. 

Some  movemento  of  the  anemv,  who  appeared  with  a  large 
flotitk  of  bargee  and  boata  in  the  bay.  Induced  Mr.  jonea  to 
expect  an  attack,  on  the  18th,  and  he  got  under  way  firom  the 
pemtion  he  thm  held,  at  8  SO  P.  M.,  to  attain  lea  PMitasCoqudlee, 

aa  mentioned.  A  email  tender,  called  the  Seahorse,  had  beea 
diapatched  into  the  Bay  of  St  Louis,  a  short  time  previously,  to 
dealipy  some  stows ;  and  about  4  o'clock  the  ec^piy  sent  thm 
boatp  in  After  bw,  to  cut  her  out.  The  Seahorse  earned  one 
light  «x-pounder,  and  had  but  14  men.  She  wns  commanded 
byMr.Johneoo,aaailing^naster.  AfewdischarapsofgraM 
drove  hack  the  bbata,  whksh  were  aoon  reinforced,  however,  Ig 
four  more,  when  a  spirited  engagement  ensued.    This  was  »• 

99* 


Mimk 


•Hi 


342 


NAVAL    HIITOET. 


(1814. 


' 


oommenotnwnt  of  aetiul  h(MtiUtiM,  in  the  celebrated  eipedition 
•saiiut  New  Orleans.  Mr.  Johnson  having  got  «  poutioo, 
where  he  wm  lustained  by  two  aixet  on  the  shore,  made  a 
handsome  resisUnoe,  and  the  barges  retired  with  some  loss. 
A  few  hours  later,  however,  the  Seahorse  and  stores  were  set 
on  fire  by  the  Antericans  themselves,  as  it  was  not  possible  to 
prevent  them  from  eventually  flilliag  into  the  hands  o(  a  force 
as  formidable  as  that  brought  up  by  the  enemy.  Not  long 
after,  another  tender,  called  the  Alligator,  armed  with  a  four- 
IKkinder,  and  with  a  crew  of  only  8  men,  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  English. 

About  1  A.  M.  on  the  14th,  the  flotilla,  which  had  been  en- 
deavouring to  gain  a  better  position,  was  compelled  to  anchor 
in  the  west  endof  the  passage  of  Malhereux  Island,  on  account 
of  a  fiiilura  of  wind  and  the  strength  of  the  current.  At 
daylight  the  boats  of  the  enemy  were  seen,  having  brought  up 
about  three  leagues  to  the  eastward.  It  was  a  perfect  calm, 
and  a  strong  ebb  tide  sotting  thrugish  the  Pass,  no  alternative 
was  loft  Mr.  Jones,  but  tc  prepare  obstinateljr  to  defend,  or  to 
abandon  his  vessels.  He  gallantly  determined  on  the  first, 
although  the  force  that  would  be  brought  against  him  was 
known  to  be  overwhelmina.  Amngements  were  accordingly 
made  to  resist  the  expected  attack  to  the  utmost.  It  had  been 
the  intention  to  form  the  five  gun-boata  with  sprinn  on  their 
cables,  directly  across  the  channel,  in  a  close  line  ahreast,  but 
the  force  of  the  current  deranged  tho  plan ;  Nos.  1S6  and  168 
having  been  foroed  about  a  hundred  yards  down  the  Pass,  and 
that  much  in  advance  of  the  three  other  boats.  The  approach 
of  the  enemv  prevented  an  attempt  to  repair  this  |(reat  disad- 
vantage, whk^h  exposed  the  vessels  mentioned  to  b  j  ng  assailed 
while,  in  a  measure,  unsupported  by  their  consorts.  When 
the  character  of  the  resistance  is  considered,  it  appeara  pro- 
bable that  this  accident  alone  prevented  a  victory  from  having 
been  obtained. 

The  En^ish  flotilla  consbted  of  between  40  and  00  barges 
and  boats,  the  former  expressly  constructed  for  the  purposes 
of  the  invasion,  and  they  are  said  to  have  mounted  42  guns, 
principally  oarronades  of  the  calibers  of  13, 16,  and  94  pounds. 
The  number  of  men  embarked  in  these  boats  has  been  com- 

Ct«d  as  high  as  1200  by  some  accounts,  while  by  others  it 
s  been  put  as  low  as  400.    The  size  and  number  of  the 
barges,  however,  render  the  latter  account  improbable,  ten  men 


^^^iiia^t^itUMiiiMiMMil6ii 


Plt4 


1114.1 


MATAL     HIBTO»T. 


343 


The  truth  would  rnoit 


to  «  bo«l  being  tltogether  too  few. 
probably  lie  between  tho  exircmcii. 

At  It)  8B,  A.  M.,  the  ciwiny  ninvd  hia  grapnela  and  Kedgea, 
and  forming  in  open  order,  in  a  line«br«iat,  he  pulled  up  btca- 
dily  to  the  attack.     When  near  enough  to  bo  reached  by  •hoi, 
the  uun-boata  opened  a  deliberate  (ire  on  the  approaching 
bariitM,  though  with  littlo  effect,  ai  they  prewnted  object*  too 
•mall  to  »w  aimed  at  with  any  accuracy.     At  1 1  10,  however, 
the  enemy  opened  a  Art?  through  hi*  whole  line,  and  the  action 
immediately  became  general  and  deittructivo.    At  11  4»,  the 
enemy  waa  near  enough  to  make  an  attempt  to  board  1  so, 
which  veaaol  waa  much  cxpowsd  by  her  advnn<»d  poaition. 
Throe  boats  daahed  at  her,  but  two  were  aunk,  and  the  attack 
waa  rcpulied.    It  waa  renewed  by  four  boata,  which  were  alao 
beaten  off-  with  a  heavy  loaa.    In  repelling  thia  last  attack, 
Mr.  Jonea  waa  unfortunately  ahot  down,  when  the  command  de. 
volved  on  Mr.  Parker,  o  young  midBhipman,  who  defended  his 
veasel  until  he  waa  severely  wounded  hinwolf,  and  wm  ovel^ 
powered  by  numbera.    The  enemy  got  poaaeaaion  of  No.  lOO 
at  12  10,  and  he  immediately  turned  her  guna  on  the  other 
American  boata.     No.  168  waa  next  carried,  »fte'»  *«");, jB^* 
lant  reaiaunce ;  and  No.  162  followed,  but  not  until  Mr.  Sped, 
den  waa  aeverely  wounded.    The  twcnty-four-^nder  of  No. 
5  had  been  dUmountcd  by  the  recoil,  and  the  fire  of  the  cap- 
tured boata  having  been  turned  on  her.ahe  wns  al«o  compelled 
to  submit.    No.  23,  Mr.  M'Koever,  waa  the  lost  voaMl  taken, 
hauling  down  her  flag  about  12  80,  when  under  the  fite  of  the 
captured  boata,  and  all  the  enemy'*  remaining  force.    Captaui 
Lockyer  of  the  Sophie  commanded  the  English  flotilla  on  thu 
occaaton,  aaaieted  by  Captain  Mootroaor  of  the  Manloy,  and 
Captain  Roberta  of  the  Meteor. 

Although  the  loaa  of  this  diviaion  of  gun-boate  was  a  aertOMi 
impedimrot  to  the  defence  of  New  Orteana,  both  the  coun  ry 
andthe  service  looked  upon  the  result  of  the  combat  aa  a  tri- 
umph.  On  the  latter,  in  particular,  the  resistance  made  by 
Mr.  Jonea,  and  the  oflksere  and  men  under  his  orders,  refleotad 
ttraat  honour,  for  it  was  known  to  have  been  made  almoat  with- 
out hope.  Circumatancea  compelled  the  assailed  to  fight  to  great 
disadvantage,  and  it  would  seem  that  they  struggled  to  render 
their  chanSss  more  equal  by  a  desperate  but  cool  p»ll«ntry. 
In  consequence  of  (he  character  of  this  defence,  it  is  uauaUy 
thought,  ID  the  aervioe,  to  bertow  as  much  credit  on  an  officer 


ittii 


844 


NAVAL     NItTOR  V. 


llIU 


to  have  been  prcMont  at  the  tletiwt  of  Lake  Uorine,  aa  to  bavt 
been  praMBiit  tit  a  ■ignal  viotory. 

There  ia  the  miiw  diaagroeineot  in  the  publiahed  aooounls 
of  the  luea  of  the  British  uo  th'r  ocoaaioo,  aa  ia  the  published 
accounts  of  their  Turce.  It  was  the  opinioo  of  Liuutenaat 
Cwninandant  Joihw,  who  was  carried  on  board  the  r  nemy'a 
fleet,  that  their  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  nearly  400 1 
while  other  prisoners,  who,  Trora  not  having  boon  wounded,, 
had  perhaps  better  opportunities  Tor  aaoertainiag  Ikou  or  this  na> 
ture,  have  never  placed  it  lower  than  between  SIOO  and  300  men. 
By  the  official  statemeut  of  the  uiiemy,  as  publbhed,  his  luea 
was  04.  As  even  this  wa^  more  than  half  the  number  of  ine 
Americans  engaged,  it  proves  the  gallantry  of  the  resiataiice, 
but  it  is  believed  that  the  true  aooount  was  varied  for  the  pur* 
poeea  of  eflkt.  llie  American  loss,  though  aevora,  waa  ooni> 
paratively  trifling. 

The  command  of  the  naval  force  at  New  Orleans  had  been 
given  tu  Captain  Patterson,  one  of  the  young  oflioeni  who  had 
been  a  prisoner  at  Tri|ioli  with  Captain  Uainbridge.  Captain 
PatU'rson  was  a  master  commandant,  and  he  was  aaaistod  by 
many  exoolleut  officers }  but  his  force  waa  merely  intended  to 
command  the  rivor  and  the  shallow  waters  in  the  vicinity  of 
tlio  town.  A  ship  called  the  Louisiana  had  been  purchased 
and  armud  with  10  long  twunty.fours.  Men  were  pressed  in 
the  streets  for  the  emergency,  under  a  law  of  the  state,  and 
the  command  of  the  vessel  was  given  to  Lieutonant  C.  B. 
Thompiion. 

The  enemy  finding  himself  in  command  of  Lake  Borgn«| 
by  the  capture  of  the  gun<boala,  sent  up  a  brioade  of  iroopa, 
under  Miyor  Oeneral  Keane,  which  auooeeded  in  •ntaring  « 
bayou,  and  in  landing  but  a  few  miles  below  the  town.  Hera  he 
encamped,  after  advancing  to  some  hard  ground,  on  the  night  of 
the  aSd  of  December,  with  hia  left  flank  m^  on  the  Mia* 
sissinpi.  No  aooner  was  (he  poaitkm  of  tba  British  known  to 
the  Americana,  than  Oeneral  Jaokaao  marobad  againat  them 
with  all  the  diaposahlo  force  he  oould  asaemMa,  making  •  to> 
tal  of  about  ISOO  men,  and  by  a  prompt  and  spirited  night 
attack  he  saved  New  Orleans.  The  movemants  of  the  troops 
on  this  oocaaion,  were  preceded  by  Captain  Patteraon's  drop- 
ping down  abreast  of  the  English  bivooao,  in  tba  U.  S.  soboooar 
Carolina  14,  and  opening  a  moat  gallias  Are,  Tba  exoelkuit 
use  made  of  this  little  vesael,  on  the  8Sd,  aa  well  aa  her  oon* 
twuing  to  threaten  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy,  materially  ooa* 


^^^^^^^^^£^gMiiiiMMMitUttm 


Ills.} 


NAVAL   NIITOBf. 


845 


Iribuuxl  to  U«  genonil  auccoM  of  thn  cainwiigu,  ihore  »wing 
no  .lutnitioii  thai  tho  chock  recflivinl  by  i\w  Knglwh  in  tto  «c- 
tioa  ju«i  inmiiioiKul,  ftloiw  prevented  them  (turn  narchinjj  into 
New  OrU«n»,  lr«>in  which  town  lh«y  wi-ni  di»laut  only  «  fcw 
miles.  It  had  been  iiitond«;d  thnt  llw  I/)uwi«na  •Iwuld  join  in 
this  attacli,  but  the  ship  could  not  bo  got  reody  in  tiino. 

A  ftw  days  later,  however,  the  Carolina  was  vnry  crincally 
pUce«l.  Tho  eoeiny  hftd  landed  scne  uuim,  and  the  wind  hav- 
ing  blown  fresh  for  sonio  timo  at  N.  N.  W„  it  had  been  found 
impossible  to  ascend  llw  ilrram  against  a  currunl  thai  was 
even  too  strong  for  warping.    Tho  armament  of  th«  schooner 
consisted  only  of  twelvo-pound  carronadee,  and  ono  long  ^uii 
of  the  same  calibre.    On  tho  morning  of  tho  a7th,  tho  wind 
being  quite  light  at  thfl  northward,  the  enemy  opened  upon  tho 
Carolina  with  hot  sliot  4nd  shells,  from  a  five-gun  batterv. 
Tho  cannonade  was  returned  from  the  long  twelve,  tlie  only 
piece  that  could  be  used,  but  tho  schooner  was  soon  sot  on 
fire,  beneath  her  cable  tiers,  and  a  Uttlo  after  sunrise  Captain 
Henley  was  compelled  to  give  orders  to  abandon  her.     Beforo 
this  could  be  eflbcted,  7  men  wore  killed  ond  wounded,  and  the 
veaael  was  much  iiyurod  by  shot.    Shortly  after  the  crow  had 
got  on  shore,  tho  Carolina  blow  up.    Dunng  four  or  five  of 
the  moot  critical  days  of  tho  campwgn,  this  4ittlo  vessel  ron- 
doRid  signal  •ervlco,.and  tho  enemy  have  always  paid  a  just 
tribute  to  the  spln't,  judgment,  and  intrepidity  with  which  she 
was  managed.     Her  behaviour  on  the  night  of  tho  a3d,  re. 
fleeted  groat  credit  on  Captain  Patterson,  and  on  aU  under  his 

ordora.  ,  .      .      ■  j 

Tho  Louisiana  woa  now  tho  only  vooael  in  tho  nvor,  and 
she  covered  the  flank  of  the  American  lines.  On  board  thia 
ship  Captain  Pattenon  repaired,  after  the  loas  of  the  Carolina. 
On  the  morning  of  the  aSth,  an  advance  of  the  enemy  against, 
the  American  tioope,  drew  a  fire  from  and  upon  the  ship,  which 
was  maintained  for  aeven  houn.  In  the  course  of  this  long 
owioonade,  the  Louisiana  threw  800  shot  among  the  enemy, 
■uflbring  very  little  in  return.  '  ^  ^        . 

After  the  deatiuctkm  of  the  Carolina,  her  oflkera  and  people 
volunteered  to  man  aome  of  the  heavy  guns  thai  were  mounted 
on  the  American  lines,  and  they  Iiad  a  share  in  all  the  suboe. 
quent  tuooesaea  obtained  on  shore.  Captain  Patterson  elso  oreot> 
ed  a  battery  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  which  was  put  up 
under  the  orden  of  CSiptain  Henley,  and  was  of  material  use. 
Od  the  8th  of  January  the  English  made  their  grand  assault, 
and  were  defteted  with  dreadftH  slaughter.    In  this  extraordi- 


Hr-      T 


MATAL    HiarOBT. 


titu 


Mrv  iMHt«,  (Ha  Iom  of  ttw  mtmny  wm  mmpulwl  it  turn  two 
to  ihres  ibouaasii  nscH  ;  tnare  •han  ••<>  'h'Miian'!  h«»mg  h««n 
kilM  aod  wuundad.  I'tM  «MnMn'a  UtUiry  on  ihn  rtyht  bank 
of  th*  nv«r  WM  Imnponnly  itMutiionnl,  but  tho  Ijuuiaiana  wu 
•f  pMt  uM,  uhI  tiM  oAloara  diMl  mm  of  tht  Mrrk«  dialla< 
guUhod  thnnwnlvvM  by  limir  actUily.  imI,  and  counigr.  On 
tnU  (tcrMiun  <^nt«)n  il>tnl«y  wu  woundiHi.  Ottn  gun  in  p«r« 
Unular,  commaiMiiHl  by  Mr.  rhilibnrt,  a  mi(iahi|)man,  wm  inrv- 
wl  in  «  mcnner  (u  ■tlimct  grnoral  •tlonlion.  Thn  I^ouiatMW 
CMMitiniMd  to  Mtiat  in  iinnoytng  thn  nnfliny,  until  tha  night  of 
(tM  18th.  whnn  (Im  Bagliah  n^lrvAtod  to  their  bo«ta,  awl  ea»> 
barkad,  ab«adunin«„  lk«ir  altampt  all4)ffiKh«r, 

CapUin  PKItaraon  immodiataty  d«apatch<Hl  axvnnil  offlmra, 
1b  cyomntand  of  nipaditiona,  to  intareapl  ami  annoy  khn  einrmy 
oa  thair  ratraal,  though  tha  want  of  a  direct  communicalion 
batwaan  tha  rivar  ami  tha  lakaa,  pravanted  tha  employmont  of 
any  vaaaala  larger  than  boata,  on  thia  aarvioe.  Mr.  Thomaa 
Shialda,  a  puraar,  who  had  pravioualv  been  a  tm-(Mc*>r,  and 
who  had  9  boata  and  60  man  under  hia  ordnra,  wm  m>  fortu- 
Mia  M  to  capture  one  of  the  enntny'a  large  boata,  with  40  offl- 
aara  and  man  of  the  14(h  light  dragoons,  and  14  aeanwn  on 
board.  AfW  acouriag  theae  priaonera,  Mr.  Shielda  captured 
a  barge  and  a  traaaport  achoonar,  and  aubaaquently  five  other 
boata,  making  in  all  88  more  priaoftcra.  wmw  akirmiahing 
ooourrad,  ana  Mr.  Shialda  loat  ooa  or  two  of  hia  prizes  and  a 
finr  of  hia  priaocMnra  i  but  he  succeeded  in  bringing  in  with  him 
78  of  tha  ItMar,  baaidaa  dealroving  acveral  boata.  Mr.*  John< 
MO,  a  aailii^*maalar,  alao  periormed  some  sen  ice  or  the  same 
Mtura  with  otedit,  daatroyiof  a  transport  and  capturing  a  party 
of  men. 

In  all  the  important  aarrkje  paribrmed  in  (Vont  of  New  Or- 
VMna,  during  thia  short  but  arduous  campaion,  the  navy  had 
a  Aill  sbaio,  though  ito  meana  were  nnccsaaimy  limited.  Cap- 
tain Putenmi,  Captain  Henley,  Lieutenanta  Jonea,  Thompaon, 
M*K«0««r,  Spaddan,  Cunoinghan^  Norria,  Crowley,  with  aer- 
eral  aailing-mattera  and  midahipnien,  diatinguiahed  themwlvea 
on  dlflkreot  oeoaakma.  The  sarvk»  alao  witneaaed  with  par< 
ticular  aaliaActk«  the  intdllgenoe  and  apirited  conduct  of  Mr. 
ShieUa,  an  oAteer  who  had  received  hia  training  in  ita  own 
achool.  The  marine  corpa  had  ita  share,  too,  in  the  honour 
of  thia  gloriona  campaign,  a  amall  detachment  of  it  having 
Acted  with  its  uaual  good  conduct,  under  the  command  of  Ma- 
k»r  Carmick,  who  wu  wounded  io  the  affiur  of  the  98th  of 
December. 


itfttiiikii 


(tut 


ItlAl 


MATAL     MliTOETf. 


CHAPTKR  XL. 

Wi  h«Tfl  now  r«iflh»Nl  «  [•"rw^f  wMn  It  Iwi  h«romo  pmper 
to  mlvort  U>  «vmH« on  «h«i .lifl«r.'i>i  l«li«».  which  wcm  thn  w«ne» 
of  •om*  of  Ihfl  mrni  imj^.rtiiiU,  ••  wrll  nn  of  ihfl  iikhi'  mtorr.t. 
inif  incidnnU  of  lh«  w«f .  In  orikr  Ui  do  this,  it  will  \m  tm^ry 
to  return  to  iha  nmtwitct^nvai  »(  hctihtlM,  for  tha  whota  of 
thi«  portion  of  tlw  nxihyjcX  has  l«»'n  rf-ervcil,  in  or.l«r  to  \my  rt 
before  the  rrmikt  in  a  coi»tinu..<l  unrrnlivo,  hoving  no  iminwliat* 
connexion  with  the  w«r  on  l»w  «»ci'an. 

The  Knalish  govomment  hml  longmainiMinwl  a  .mall  nav«i 
forr*  on  the  great  lake.;  though  much  lh«  lyner  p..rtion  ..f 
(^hamplain  Iwiug  within  the  juriwliction  of  the  UniteU  Mtalea,  it 
had  k«pt  no  crui^r  on  thai  waiflf.  On  Uke  Ontario,  how. 
«ver.  tfiere  were  «voral  v-eb,  aa  early  aa  «»«'  7""'«r"; 
inent  of  the  century,  one  of  which  wa.  a  ahip  ««»«^  '»;•■  »'f' • 
of  Moira.  W  hen  the  American  government  caunwl  the  ( )ijei(la 
I e  to  be  biiilt.  that  of  the  Canada,  laid  down  the  keel  of  a  ahip 
called  the  Royal  Deorge.  which  wM  pierced  for  U  guna. 
and  whkh  waa  about  one-half  larger  than   the  Amencan 

Th^  Oneida  wa.  manned  and  equippe<l  at  the  ^"•■•■'[■''on  ^ 
the  war.  and  waa  atill  under  the  command  of  Mr.  Woolaey, 
who  liad  built  her  four  year.  nreviou.ly.    The  i»v«l  •«•  'on 
on  the  American  .i.le  of  the  lake,  waa  at  Sacketfa  Harbour,  a 
bMUtifUl  and  wife  ba.in.  not  far  from  the  commencement  ol 
the  8t  Uwwoce;  while  that  of  the  Hriti.h  wa.  nearly  oppo- 
•ite,  at  Kinptoo.    The  cnen.y,  howoyer,  had  patly  the  ad- 
vantage  in  Jorta,  thoM)  of  the  north  .hore  of  ih»  l««>««  »»'«? 
generally  the  moat  commodiou.  and  ea.y  of  f  ««"«;*•  »3 
probably  not  aa  numerou.  aa  thoae  of  the  wHith.  The  Englwh 
•lao  poiwawMl  a  material  advantage  over  the  Amencan.,  in 
all  tlw  warfait,  of  thi.  region  of  country,  whether  «)n  the  water, 
or  on  tha  land,  in  the  age  and  more  advanced  «»vili-ation,  and 
coo«quently,  in  the  greater  re«.uroe.  of  '•)«  •«^»>«"*"''  "f 
their  .outhern  frontier,  over  thoae  on  the  northern  frontier  of 

tha  United  Statea.  .    ,  ...  ,.    .•  _ 

The  great  .upcriority  of  the  enemy  in  force,  notwith.tanding 

hk  known  inferiority  in  diacipline  and  comparative  efficiency. 


348 


NAVAL    HISTORT 


[1819. 


prevented  Lioutonunt  Commnndant  Woolaoy  from  inviting  hos* 
tilitiea,  which  wuru  |>crmittcd  to  como  from  th^  ciicmy.  On 
the  19th  of  July,  or  iibout  a  month  after  war  was  declared,  five 
Mil  were  diacovcrod  from  the  fort  at  Sockett'.-.  Harbour,  a  few 
leagues  in  the  offing ;  and  shortly  after,  they  captured  a  boat 
belonging  to  the  cuntoni-house,  which  ihey  sent  in,  with  a  de- 
mand that  the  Onuida  should  be  surrendered  to  them,  a*  well 
as  a  schooner  called  the  Lord  Nelson,  that  had  been  captured 
not  long  before  by  tho  brig.  The  Oneida  now  got  under  way, 
and  ran  down,  to  windv/ard  of  tho  enemy's  squadrca,  to  try 
her  sailinff,  and,  if  possible,  to  pass  it,  with  a  view  to  escape. 
Finding  tho  latter  impracticable,  however.  Lieutenant  Com- 
mandant  Woolsey  beat  back  iii^o  the  harbour,  and  anchored 
his  brig  close  under  a  bank,  where  she  could  rake  the  entrance. 
All  ;he  guns  of  her  off  side  were  landod  end  mounted  on  the 
shore,  presenting  &  force  of  16  twenty-four-pound  carronbdea 
in  battery.  On  a  height  that  commaiidod  the  ofHng,  as  well 
08  the  entrance,  was  a  small  fort ;  and  here  a  long  thirty-two- 

Eundek(  that  had  been  originally  intended  for  this  Oneida,  in 
r  legal  character  of  a  ^n-boat,  was  mounted ;  and  tlie 
enemy  still  remaining  outside,  Mr.  Woolsey  repaired  to  the 
■pot,  and  took  charge  of  the  piece  in  person. 

The  enemy  kept  turning  to  windward,  and  having  got 
within  gun-shot,  he  opened  a  slow,  irreoular,  and  ill-directed 
tiro  on  the  fort,  brig,  and  butteries.  His  fire  waa  returned ; 
and.^iler  a  cannonade  of  about  two  hoars,  the  English  vessels 
lore  up,  and  stood  back  towards  Kingston.  This  was  the 
Gommcncemeni  of  hostilities  on  the  lakes,  and  it  fully  proved 
the  incompetency  of  the  officers  in  ctiarge  of  the  enemy's  force, 
for  the  duty  with  which  ihey  had  been  entrusted.  The  English 
vedsels  consisted  of  the  Royal  George  22.  Prince  Regent  16, 
Earl  of  Moira  14,  Dukd  of  Ulour>wt9r,  Seneca,  and  the  Sirocoe. 
On  the  part  of  the  Americaos,  no  harm  was  dime ;  while  the 
enemy  i&  believed  to  have  received  some  trifling  injuries.     - 

It  is  probable  that  the  rovemroent  of  Canada  was  itself  dis- 
satrsfied  with  the  result  of  this  first  experiment  of  its  naval 
forces,  for  soon  after  arrangements  vere  made  to  seud  oflioen 
and  mm  who  belonged  to  llie  royal  navy,  upon  the  lakes.  It 
was  apparent  to  both  nations,  that  the  command  of  the  inland 
waters  was  of  great  in^portante  in  carrying  on  the  war  of  the 
frontiers,  and  each  of  the  belligerents  commenced  systematic 
operati(His  to  obtain  it.  As  the  enemy  was  already  much  the 
strongest  on  Ontario,  it  was  incumbrat  aa  the  Aroeiican  ffh 


%M 


nmm 


mmimm 


T 


fina. 

nviting  hos> 
unmy.  On 
oclarcd,  fivo 
hour,  a  few 
jrad  a  boat 
I,  with  a  de- 
em, a«  well 
ion  captured 

under  way, 
drca,  to  try 
Hf  to  escape, 
enant  Cc<n> 
id  anchored 
\k  entrance, 
nted  on  the 

carronbdea 
ling,  as  well 
;  thirty-two> 
I  Oneida,  in 
1;  and  tlie 
kired  to  the 

having  got 
ill>directeci 
3  returned; 
giiah  veasels 
his  was  the 
fiiily  proved 
emy's  force, 
Fhe  English 
Regent  16, 
the  Simcoe. 
;  while  the 
juries.  * 
18  itself  dis« 
>f  its  naval 
leud  officers 
e  lakes.  It 
fthe  inland 
war  of  the 
I  systematic 
\y  much  the 
mericangch 


181S.1 


NAtAL     HIiTOBY. 


349 


vcmmcnt  to  take  the  first  measures,  and  it  not  about  them  m 
earnest,  very  «hortly  after  the  bc|?inninK  of  hostilities,   it  being 
evident  that  the  command  was  one  of  the  most  important  that 
had  ever  been  confided  to  an  Amerirjin  officer,  great  cairs  was 
necessary  in  the  selccf  ion  of  the  individual  to  whom  this  highly 
lesponsibje  and  arduous  duty  was  to  be  entrusted.    The  chojcc 
of  the  department  fell  on  Captain  Isaac  Chsuncey,  then  at  the 
head  of  the  New  York  navy-yard.    His  orders  were  dated 
August  aist,  1812,  and  on  the  6th  of  October,  ho  arrived  at 
Sackett's  Harbour  in  person.    Forty  ship-carpenters  left  New 
York  in  the  first  wesli  of  September,  and  more  followed  im- 
mediately.    Instructions  wei«  sent  to  Mr.  Woolsey,  to  pur- 
chase sundry  small  merciiant  vessels  i  and  on  'Je  18th  of  Sep- 
tember, 100  officers  ar^l  seamen  left  New  York  for  Sacketts 
Harbour,  with  guns,  shot,  stores,  &c.  •    .-^  ^ 

The  vessels  used  hy  the  Americans  m  .»**  J«»'"f?*'**,5l 
Lake  Ontario,  were  schooners,  varying  in  sim  firom  30  to  Itw 
tons ;  and  the  first  measure  of  Commodore  Chauncey  was  to 
purchase  a  sufficient  number  of  these  craft  to  obtain  the  wro- 
Iwind  of  the  Iske,  until  «..  r»  better  fitted  for  war^d  he 
constructed.     A  selection  of  the  most  eligible  was  accordmghr 
maoa  by  Mr.  Wookey ;  they  were  bought,  armed,  equipped, 
manned,  and  put  into  the  «'X'**^  "»<!«'  *^""r!.  °*pl? 
Hamilton,  Ooverro^r  Tompkins,  Conqurat,  Growler,  Julia,  ren, 
frc,  &c.    Nether  of  these  schooners  had  the coostnicttooof 
the  QMBlities  iw|uirite  for  a  vessel  of  war,  but  they  were  the  ta* 
fir  tL  service  contemplated  that  could  then  be  found  od  those 
waters.    Wit^x».•*.  quarters,  their  armaments  consisted  pruw- 
pally  of  lof^K  guns,  mounted  od  circles,  with  a  few  of  a  iightor 
■     descTiplky-i,  that  could  be  of  no  material  -"^l*' ««^  "» Jf 

pellinjbcarten.  *"»  k~>  «f  »  f'V?  ^™"."*  211^2^^ 
^nd  canoBades,  however,  was  laid  down  in  September,  or 
before  the  commawling  officer  reached  the  staUcrn. 

In  cooiuDctwo  wiihtbe  Oneida,  the  entire  flotilla  that  could 
be  inadt  imr-iediately  avaitab«  mounted  40  guns,  and  it  was 
manned  with  480  men,  the  marines  incl»ded.  As  tfej^' 
meet  of  the  Oneida  was  just  16  gims,  it  folkms  that  there  was 
an  average  ol'  4  guns  each,  among  the  ••*  «2*'.™"n  *1 
this  time,  tla  enemj  was  said  to  possess  on  O^no,  M»«fy*| 
SUe  JTi,  Eari  of  Moir.  14,  both  ships ;  and  the  sch«>ners 
J^H^  10,  Dnke  «f  Gteocester  14,  S«»«»e  12^.»d 
Seneca  4 ;  maWng  a  (bice  in  guns,  more  than  d«W«  "T*  J 
tba  Americans,  with  a  prcportionale  disparity  m  the  mimMr  oi 
M 


■^p 


—jMil— iMMia— MiM 


mm 


350 


NAVAE.     HI8T0RT. 


[1818 


the  men.  As  cruising  vessels,  the  enemy's  squadron  pos« 
■eased  an  advantage  in  their  siie  and  construction,  that  greatly 
increased  their  superiority. 

Previously  to  the  war  of  1813,  there  was  no  vessel  on  the 
upper  lakes,  that  properly  belonged  to  the  American  marine. 
A  brig,  called  the  Adams,  however,  had  been  constructed  on 
these  waters,  for  the  convenience  of  the  war  department, 
which,  under  its  own  officers,  had  long  found  it  useful  in  the 
transportation  of  stores  and  military  supplies  By  the  capture 
of  Michigan,  the  Adams  foil  into  the  hands  of  the  enemjr,  who 
ciMnged  her  name  to  the  Detroit,  and  took  her  into  their  ser- 
vice. At  this  time,  the  enemy  possessed  two  or  three  other 
vessels  on  the  upper  lakes,  and  of  course,  this  capture,  for  the 
moment,  gave  them  complete  command  of  the  waters  be- 
tween the  outlet  of  Lake  Brie  and  the  head  of  Lake  Mich- 
igui. 

With  a  view  to  counteract  this  ascendency,  Lieutenant  J. 
D.  Elliot  was  sent  by  Commodore  Chaunoey  to  the  upper 
lakes,  about  the  time  that  the  latter  officer  appeared  at  Sack- 
^'s  Harbour,  with  diiectwns  to  purchase  an^  suitable  vessels 
that  might  be  found,  and  to  make  preparations  also  for  the 
creation  of  the  neoesqary  force  in  Uiat  quarter.  While  Mr. 
Elliot  was  thus  employed,  a  fortunate  concurrence  of  circum- 
stances, put  it  in  the  power  of  this  officer  to  plan  a  blow  at  tlie 
enemy,  of  wbbh  he  availed  hinnelf  with  a  spirit  and  prompti- 
tude that  were  hishly  creditable.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th 
of  October,  the  Det^t  came  down  the  lake,  in  company  with 
another  brig,  tailed  the  Caledonia,  and  anchored  under  Fort 
Erie ;  and  that  very  day  intelligence  was  received  that  the 
first  party  of  seamen  intended  for  the  lake,  was  within  a  short 
march  of  the  Niagara  frontier.  Orders  were  accordingly  sent 
to  hasten  their  arrival,  which  actually  took  place  about  noon 
of  the  same  day. 

Finding  that  the  men  were  without  arms,  Mr.  Elliot  applied 
to  Brigadier  General  Smythe,  the  officer  in  command  of  the 
troops  on  t^t  frontier,  who  not  onlv  furnished  the  necessary 
noeans,  but  who  permitted  about  fifty  soldiers  to  volunteer  to 
aid  in  the  enterprise. 

Twb  of  the  large  boats  used  in  those  waters,  containing 
•bout  60  men  eac^  partly  seamen  and  partly  soldiers,  were 
piqNued  for  the  service,  and  a  small  boat,  or  two,  were 
manned  by  a  few  citiseos.  The  party  attempted  to  pull  out 
ofBuflUo  Greek,  early  in  the  eveoiog  of  tbeTth;  but  tto  Uuge 


% 


[1819 


mmam 


1818.] 


NATAL    HIBTOBY. 


351 


boaU  grounded  on  tb-.  bar.  Here  iome  delay  occurred,  it  being 
found  necessary  for  moat  on  board  to  got  into  the  water,  before 
they  could  make  the  boats  float  again.  It  was  consequenUy 
much  later  when  tho  adventurers  reached  the  stream. 

As  the  enemy  lay  near  their  own  shore,  the  party  pulled 
some  distance  up  the  lake  in  order  to  get  above  his  vessels,  . 
before  they  edged  away.  It  was  past  midnight  when  they  got 
near  the  two  brigs,  the  Detroit  lymg  highest  up  stream,  and 
farthest  from  the  land.  The  boat  destined  to  attack  the  Cele- 
donia  was  directed  to  lead,  in  order  that  both  vessels  nught  be 
assaulted  as  nearly  as  possible  at  the  same  moment.  Thi» 
boat  was  under  the  orders  of  Mr.  Watts,  a  sailinff-master,  sup- 
ported  by  Captain  Towsonof  the  aitillerjr ;  while  Mr.  Elliott, 
m  person,  had  charge  of  the  other  boa^  m  which  were  Lieu- 
tenut  Roach  of  the  artillery,  and  Ensign  Pieswnan  of  the 

infantry.  .        ,»      .     ^ 

As  the  leading  boat  crossed  the  bow  of  the  Dehoit,  the  en- 
emy  took  the  aUrm,  and  the  party  of  Mr.  Elliott,  as  it  ap. 
pioached,  received  two  volleys  of  musketry.   Without  regard- 
ing this,  both  boats  pulled  steadily  on,  that  whwh  led  reaching 
the  Caledonia  in  proper  time,  but  it  would  seem  that  one  of  the 
napnels  missed,  and  she  fell  so  far  astern  as  to  allow  the  en- 
emy to  make  a  stout  resistance.    Here  the  decision  and  spint 
of  Captain  Towson  were  of  material  service,  and  the  vessel 
was  captured.    Lieutenant  Roach  of  the  *nny»  *}»  *»■,««• 
customed  to  the  duty,  steered  the  boat  of  Mr.  Elliott,  which 
was  laid  alongside  of  the  Detroit  with  great  steadiness  and  iu> 
curacy,  when  the  party  went  aboard  ofthe  enemy,  Lieutenant* 
Elliott  and  Roach  leading.  The  former  had  a  narrow  escape, 
his  hat  having  been  struck  from  his  head,  and  at  the  same  in- 
stant he  nearfy  cleft  the  skull  ofthe  EnglUh  commander,  who 
discovered  the  greatest  resolution.    Being  wdl  suppwted,  this 
brig  waa  carried  with  great  repidity. 

bk  this  handsome  afiair  one  man  was  hilled,  and  a  few  were 
wounded,  including  Mr.  Cummings  a  midshipman,  in  the  boat 
of  Mr.  Elliott ;  wKle  that  of  Mr.  Watts,  owing  to  the  cireum- 
stance  mentmned,  sustained  ntther  more  loss.  Mr.  Elliott  re- 
ported the  Detroit  as  carryins  six  long  nines,  and  to  have  had 
Tcrew  of  6fty-eix  souls.  The  Caledonia  nwunted  but  two 
guns,  and  bad  •  much  smaller  complement  of  men.  About 
flOrty  AtMriNoi  priKmers  were  found  in  the  former  vesael,  and 

tsB  in  the  latter* 
The  Qdedeoia  was  Inougfat  soeeeisfiilly  over  to  the  Amen- 


P 


353 


NATAL    HItTOBT. 


fl819. 


tsan  fide,  but  th«  DAtroit  mat  with  graater  difficulty.  Mr.  BU 
liott  found  hirowir  obliged  to  drop  down  the  river,  paning  the 
forta  under  a  brtak  fira,  and  anchoring  within  reach  of  their 
gun*.  Here  a  cannonade  took  place,  during  which  fruitleaa 
«fibrta  were  made  to  get  linea  to  the  America*  shore,  in  order 
to  warp  the  brig  acroaa.  Finding  himaelf  aaaailed  by  the  guna 
of  the  enemy's  works,  as  well  as  by  some  light  artillery,  Mr. 
Elliol.t  determined  to  cut,  and  drop  out  of  the  reach  of  the  first, 
believing  himself  able  to  resist  the  last.  This  plan  succeeded 
h  part,  but  the  pilot  having  left  the  veasel,  she  brought  up  on 
Squaw  Island.  The  prisoners  were  now  sent  on  snore,  and 
•hortly  after  Mr.  Blliott  laft  her,  with  a  view  to  obtain  assist- 
•nee.  About  this  time  the  enemy  boarded  the  priie,  but  were 
•oon  driven  out  of  her,  by  the  artillery  of  Lieutenant  Cokmel 
Srott,  the  I  troit  being  commanded  equally  by  the  guns  on 
both  sides  of  the  Niagara.  Under  such  circumstances,  the 
vessel  was  efibctually  rendered  unfit  for  service,  and  in  the  end, 
•fler  removing  most  of  her  stores,  iihe  was  burned  by  the 
Americans. 

This  was  the  first  naval  success  obtainad  by  either  nation, 
in  tiw  warfiire  on  the  lakes,  and  it  waa  deemed  a  fortunate 
oommeaoement  for  the  Americans,  on  watars  where  they  n^bt 
b(^  to  contend  with  their  powerAil  fiies  on  an  equality,  "oe 
conduct  of  Mr.  Blliott  waa  much  applauded,  and  Congress 
voted  Urn  a  sword.  His  promptituoe  and  dedsioa  were  of 
mat  aervioe,  and  it  adds  to  the  merit  of  dU  engaged,  that  the 
Caladooia  waa  thou^  to  be  a  brig  of  a  ibroa  much  superior. 
10  what  dia  proved  to !)«,  when  thqr  left  the  shore.  Tbearmy 
had  an  equal  share,  in  the  credit  of  this  dadiing  little  cdter- 
pisa,  Ci^lain  Towson,  who,  in  eflbot,  ocmmanded  one  of  the 
boate,  thtwgh  it  was  necessarily  managed  by  a  8e«<officer,  hav- 
ing particubrly  ahowa  dacisioa  and  conduct.  The  namea  of 
lieutenant  Roadi  of  the  artillery,  Basi^  Pressman  of  the 
infiMrtry^  and  of  several  vdunteers  firom  Buffiilo,  wore  also 
included  in  the  eahijpea  of  the  eamaandiBg  officer. 

Not  long  after  thia  suooeasfiil  espkiit,  part  of  tha  craw  of 
the  John  Adams  98,  wMeh  had  b^en  kid  up  at  New  York, 
reached  Bufihlo,  to  help  man  tfieveaseia  government  intended  to 
cqmp  on  Lake  Brie.  Mr.  Anpns,  hia  aedor  officer,  aooompa* 
n]ring  this  party,  and  thara  bewg  a  want  of  lieutenanta  on  tha 
cthar  lake,  Mr.  EUMtt  now  went  bdow  to  win  the  finca  im* 
mediately  under  the  orders  of  Commodore  Quumoey.  Delbra 
quitting  this  statioo,  however,  this  officer  had  contracted  for 


iiliMiM 


liiHl 


tmmtm 


ri8i9. 


Mr.  Bl. 
•Ming  the 
h  of  tlwir 
li  fruitleM 
e,  in  order 
Y  the  guns 
illery,  Mr. 
Df  the  first, 
succeeded 
iiffht  up  on 
snore,  and 
lain  assist- 
B,  but  were 
nt  Colonel 
e  guns  on 
lances,  the 
in  the  end, 
Ded  by  the 

her  nation, 
I  fortunate 
theyndght 
lUtv.  TIm 
I  Uongress 
»  were  of 
Bd,  that  the 
sh  superior. 
The  army 
little  mtBf* 
one  of  the 
officer,  hav- 
»  nauMsof 
man  of  the 
,  wen  also 

t»  crew  of 
New  York, 
;  intended  to 
r,  aooonpa* 
lantsontha 
B  force  un* 
ey.  Defora 
itractad  for 


iBia.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


853 


several  schooners,  that  lay  in  the  Niagara,  but  which  it  was 
subsequently  found  difficukto  got  into  the  lake  on  account  of 

the  enemy's  batteries.  .       .u    i  t.        ,u   a»u 

Commodore  Chaunoey  first  appeared  on  the  lake  on  theWh 
of  November,  with  his  broad  pennant  flying  on  board  the  Onei- 
da 16,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Woolsey,  and  having  m  com- 
pany the  Conquest,  Lieutenant  Elliott}  Hamilton,  Lieutenant 
M'Pherson;  Governor  Tompkins,  Lieutenant  Brown;  Pfert, 
Mr.  Arundel ;  Julia,  Mr.  Trant ;  and  Growler,  Mr.  Mix  j  the 
three  last  named  officers  boldinj;  the  rank  of  sailing-masters. 
The  object  in  going  out,  was  to  intercept  the  return  of  the  en- 
emy's  vessels,  most  of  which  were  known  to  have  been  to  the 
westward,  conveying  supplies  to  the  army  at  Kingston.    In 
order  to  eflect  this  purpose,  the  American  squadron,  or  fl^, 
for  it  scarcely  merited  the  former  term,  went  off  the  False 
Ducks,  some  smaU  islands  that  lie  in  the  track  of  vessels  kee|^ 
ing  the  north  shore  aboard.    As  it  approached  the  mtended 
station,  a  ship  was  made  in-shore.    She  was  soon  ascertained 
to  be  the  Royal  George,  then  much  the  largest  vessel  that  had 
ever  been  constructed  on  the  inland  waters  of  America.   That 
a  ship  of  her  force  should  feel  it  necessary  to  retire  before  the 
Oneida,  must  be  aUributed  to  the  oiroumstance  of  her  not  be- 
ins  property  officered,  the  enemy  not  having  yet  made  their 
drafts  ftom  the  royal  navy  for  the  service  on  the  lakes.  Com- 
modore Chaunoey  chased  the  Royal  George  into  the  Bajr  of 
Quints,  and  lost  sight  of  her  in  the  night  The  next  morning, 
however,  she  was  seen  again,  lying  in  the  narrow  passage  that 
leads  down  to  Kingston.    Signal  was  imniediatel:|r  made  for  a 
geoeni  chase,  whSsh  was  vigorously  kept  up,  with  alternate 
Quails  and  light  airs,  until  the  enemy  was  feirly  dnven  m 
tuider  the  protection  of  his  own  batteries. 

Although  the  wind  Wew  directly  in,  and  made  a  retreat  OiU 
ficult,  Commodore  Chauncey  decided  to  foltew  the  enemy,  and 
feel  his  means  of  d^noe,  with  an  intration  of  laymg  the  ship 
aboard,  shouM  it  be  found  practicable.  Arrangements  for  that 
purpose  were  aooor^gly  made,  and  a  little  before  8  P.  M. 
tba  Teasels  that  were  up,  got  into  their  stations,  and  stood  to- 
waids  the  nKwth  of  the  harbour.  The  Conquest,  Lie«teMnt 
Blliott,  M  in  handKvnn  --yle,  foltewed  by  the  Julia,  Mr.  Ttant, 
Ptert,  Mr.  Arundel,  an«  "vler,  Mr.  Mix,m  the  order  named. 
The  Oneida  brought  up  thd  rear,  it  being  intended  to  give  time 
for  the  heovy  guns  of  the  schooners  to  open  the  way  for  a 
closer  attack  by  the  brig.  The  Hamilton  and  Governor  Torop- 
80*  30 


HIITORT. 


(in« 


kiiw  irai«  •  eoniiderable  diataoca  aitern,  having  been  sent  to 
chMe,  uid  dkl  not  doM  for  aome  time. 

At  fire  minutes  peat  8,  the  bntteries  on  India  and  Na»T 
Pdnta  oproed  on  the  Conqueat,  bat  tlieir  fire  waa  not  returned 
until  aeven  minutaa  later.     la  three  minutes  after  the  Conquest 
oonmenced  firing,  ahe  waa  joined  by  the  other  three  achoonera 
in  KStance.    The  gun  of  the  Ptert  burated  at  the  tWrd  dis- 
charge.   By  thia  accident,  Mr.  Arundel,  her  commander,  waa 
badly,  and  a  midahipman  and  three  men  were  alightly  wound* 
ad.    Tha  veassl  was  rendered,  in  a  neat  degre^  uaelesa  fbr 
the  renabder  of  the  day.    The  Oneida,  though  under  fire  fbr 
soma  time  previoualy,  (fid  not  open  with  her  carronades  on  tto 
Royal  Qaorge,  until  finrty  minutes  past  8 ;  bat  when  ahe  did 
commence,  Ute  enemy  waa  aoon  thrown  into  cooAiaion,  and  at 
4  P.  M.  he  cut  bia  caUea,  «n  deeper  into  tha  bay,  and  roada 
last  to  a  wharf,  directly  under  the  protectioa  of  the  muakeli 
ofthetioops.    Here,  a  part  of  her  pwple  actually  deserted  her, 
though  they  subsequently  returned  ou  board.    Boon  after,  the 
Goremor  Tompkins,  Lieutenant  Brown,  bore  up  off  the  har* 
hour  in  a  beautifiil  manner,  and  engaged,  having  been  pTwoeded 
aome  time,  with  equal  gallantry,  by  the  Hamilton,  Lieutenant 
M'PheraoD.    The  action  became  warm  and  general,  and  waa 
maintained  with  apirit  for  half  an  hour,  the  enemy  firing  from 
five  battoriea,  the  thip,  and  aome  moveable  guna.    It  waa  now 
ao  near  night,  the  wind  blew  ao  directly  in,  and  the  weather 
kwked  ao  threateoino,  that  the  piloto  declared  their  unwilling* 
naas  to  be  lespoosibw  any  longer  for  the  vessels ;  andCommo* 
dore  Chaoncey,  who  found  the  tnemy  much  stronger  oa  thore 
than  he  had  been  taaght  to  believe,  made  the  signal  for  the 
flotilla  to  haul  off.    When  an  offing  of  about  two  miles  had 
been  gained,  the  squadron  anchored,  with  an  intention  to  renew 
the  attack  in  the  morning. 

In  thtt  spirited  aflhir,  which  partook  of  the  character  of  the 
assaulto  on  Tripoli,  and  which,  after  a  dee  altowance  ia  made 
for  tfie  diflerenoe  in  the  force  employed,  was  prakilly  inferiw 
to  none  of  the  oannonadea  on  that  town,  for  gallantry  and 
Tiaour,  the  Americans  saflbred  much  leas  than  might  have 
been  eipeetod.  The  Oneida  had  oon  mall  killed  and  three 
d,  and  ^0  received  some  damaae  aloft.  The  other 
veaaeb  eaoaped  even  bettor,  the  aadadty  of  the  attack,  m  is  so 
oAm  the  case,  proAieing  a  sort  of  impunity.  Mr.Arondel.rf 
the  Ftat,  howarer,  who  bad  refiised  to  quit  the  deck,  theogli 


IL 


^i^^^£U| 


mUtSUm 


^Sim 


(ins 

!en  sent  to 

and  Navy 
lot  raturoed 
laConqueat 
liohoonen 
e  third  dia- 
lander,  waa 
btly  wound* 
,  uaeleaa  for 
ider  fire  fbr 
tadeaontlw 
hen  she  did 
won,  and  at 
r,  and  mad* 
:he  muak«li 
learrtedhor, 
on  after,  the 
iff  the  har- 
)enp*«oeded 
,  Lieutenant 
ml,  and  was 
^firing  from 
Itwaa  now 
the  weather 
r  unwilling- 
andCommo- 
ger  <m  thore 
gnal  for  the 
0  milea  had 
tionto  renew 

meter  of  the 
inceia  made 
aiHy  inferior 
;allantry  and 
might  have 
led  and  three 
The  other 
ttaek,aaia80 
.  Ainndel,of 
deek,th(ng)i 


181S.) 


MATAL     HIBTORT. 


3S5 


badly  wounded,  was  unfortunately  knocked  overboard  and 
drowned,  while  the  vewel  waa  beaUng  up  to  her  anchorage. 

The  veaaela  shortly  after  returned  to  port,  bringing  in  with 
them  two  or  three  amaU  P'i«ee. 

Intelligence  reaching  Commodore  Chauncey  that  the  Earl 
of  Moira  waa  off  the  Ducks,  he  aailed  on  the  18th  with  the 
Oneida,  in  a  enow  atorm,  to  capture  her ;  but  the  enemy  waa 
too  much  on  the  alert  to  be  caught  by  aurpriae,  and  the  dia* 
tances  on  the  lake  were  too  short  to  admit  of  hia  being  easily 
overtaken  in  chase.  The  Oneida  saw  the  Royal  George  and 
two  achoonera,  bat  even  these  three  vessels  were  not  disposed 
to  engage  the  American  brig  singly.  The  two  schooners  ia 
company  with  the  Royal  George  on  this  occasion,  were  sup- 
posed to  be  the  Prinoe  Regent  and  the  Duke  of  Glouoeater. 
ComroodofQ  Chaonoey  then  went  off  Oswego  to  cover  some 
stores  expected  by  water.  During  thLi  short  cruise  the  Oneida 
narrowly  escaped  shipwreck,  and  the  ice  made  so  fast,  that  at 
one  time,  it  would  have  been  impoasible  to  work  the  carronades 
had  there  been  a  necessity  for  it.  The  Conquest,  Tompkine, 
Growler,  and  Hamilton,  notwithetanding,  continued  to  cruise 
off  Kinnton,  until  the  ITth  of  November.  On  the  19th  the 
Commodora  attempted  to  go  to  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  was 
driven  back  by  a  gale,  during  which  so  much  ice  was  made 
as  to  endanger  the  vessels.  The  Growler  was  dismasted. 
Bnriy  in  December  the  navigation  closed  for  the  season. 

While  theae  evenU  were  occurring  on  the  lower  lake,  the 
navy  was  not  altogether  unemployed  on  the  upper  waters. 
Towards  the  ck)Be  of  November,  it  was  believed  that  the  ar- 
langements  were  in  a  suflicient  degree  of  forwardness  to  admit 
of  an  attempt  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  batteries  that  lined 
the  oppoaite  ahore  of  the  Niagara  in  order  to  clear  the  way  for 
the  IsBdiag  of  a  brigade  of  troope.  To  aid  it  in  executing  this 
imporUnt  service,  the  army  naturally  turned  ite  eyes  for  pro- 
fessional  aaaistance  towards  the  body  of  seamen  collected  at 

Tne  men  of  the  John  Adams  had  encamped  in  the  woods, 
near  the  river,  and  finding  the  enemy  in  the  practice  of  can- 
nonading aeroaa  the  Niagara,  shortly  after  iheir  arrival  they 
dove  into  the  wreck  of  the  Detrmt,  at  night,  made  duA  to,  and 
aooceeded  in  rabiBS  four  of  that  vessel's  gune,  with  a  large 
MMOtity  of  diet  These  pieces  were  mounted  b  battery,  and 
a  daniltory  cannonading  waa  maintained,  by  both  parties,  uniQ 
dw  arrival  of  some  heavy  guns  from  the  seaboard,  when  the 


NATAL    HllTOmT. 


(in* 


AmericaM  got  ■  force  In  battarjr,  that  toM^d  them  comoletek 
to  nwintua  their  ground  agtuut  their  •dverwrie*.  In  thw 
muiner.  inort  Ihwi  •  month  had  pawed,  when  the  application 
waa  made  to  M».  Angua,  for  •oroeofficera  and  aeamen  to  aaaut 
in  carrying  and  ailencing  the  batteriea  oppowte,  m  order  to 
ikvour  ihB^intended  dewsent.  The  arrangemento  were  won 
completed,  and  the  morning  u<-  the  a8th  of  November  waa 
ohoacn  for  the  undertaking. 

The  contemplated  intaaion  having  amarate  pomto  m  view, 
the  expedition  waa  divided  into  two  partiaa.  One,oommanded 
by  Captain  King  of  the  16th  infantry,  waa  directed  to  Mcend 
the  current  a  litUe,  in  order  to  luach  ita  point  of  attack,  white 
the  other  waa  inatrucied  to  de«)end  it,  in  about  an  emial  pro- 
portion.  The  firat  being  much  the  moat  arduoua  at  the  oara, 
the  aeamen  were  wanted  eapecially  for  thia  aervioe.  Mr. 
Angua  accordingly  embwked  in  10  boata,  with  70  men,  ex. 
cluaively  of  officera,  and  accompanied  by  Captain  King,  at  the 
bead  of  a  detachment  of  160  aoldien.  With  thia  party  went 
Mr.  Samuel  Swartwout  of  New  York,  aa  a  volunteer.  Lieu- 
tenant  Colonel  Boerader  commanded  10  more  boata,  which 
conveyed  the  detachment,  about  200  atrong,  that  waa  to  de- 
acend  with  the  current.  .  «  .^     »  u  ^ 

The  diviakm  contoining  the  aeamen  left  »»»  A«n«ncan  ebon 
about  1  A.  M.  with  muffled  oara,  and  pulled  deliberately, 
and  in  beautiPjl  order  into  the  atream.    That  the  enemy  waa 
rawly  to  meet  them  b  certain,  and  it  u  ?«>»««?„'>?,  ''•• 
aware  of  an  intention  to  croaa  that  very  night.    SUU  all  wm 
quiet  on  the  Canada  aide,  unUl  >he  boata  had  paaaed  out  of  the 
abadowa  of  the  foreat  into  a  atronger  light,  when  they  were 
met  with  a  dJachargeof  muaketryand  a  fire  from  two  field-piecea, 
that  were  plaoed  in  front  of  aome  barracka  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Red  Houae.    The  efleot  of  thia  reception  waa  to  produce 
a  little  opnfiiaion  and  diaorder,  and  aome  of  the  ofBcera  and  a 
nod  mapy  men  being  killed  or  wounded,  all  the  b«iU  did  not 
gain  the  ahore.    Thoee  in  which  efficient  office™  remained, 
however,  daabed  oo,  in  the  handaomeat  manner,  and  the  aeamen 
ir.  them  landed  in  an  inetanl.    A  bodv  of  the  enemy  waa 
drawn  up  in  front  of  the  bariwsk^  with  their  teft  flank  cove^d 
by  the  two  gnna.    Aa  aooo  aa  the  troopa  couW  be  formed,  the 
enemy*s  fire  waa  returned  and  a  abort  conflict  occurred.    At 
thia  juncture  a  amall  party  of  aeamen  armed  with  Pjkea  and 
piatola,  headed  by  Mr.  Watts,  a  «iilin».inaater,  and  Mr.  Hold, 
up,  made  a  detour  round  tho  foot  of  the  hill,  and  charging  the 


.....4m 


s.  In  thw 
■ppliofttion 
len  to  «Miat 
in  ordar  to 
wen  won 
remlwr  wu 

Ota  in  vi«w, 
comnwnded 
d  to  Moend 
Itack,  while 
1  eoiud  pro- 
•ttne  o«n, 
srvioe.  Mr. 
70  men,  ex- 
King,  at  the 
I  party  went 
leer.  Lieu- 
boata,  which 
t  waa  to  de- 

terican  ahoie 
deliberately, 
)  enemy  waa 
ible  he  waa 

sun  all  waa 
Bdout  of  the 
n  they  were 
ofield-pieoea, 

by  the  name 
M  to  produce 
>flScera  and  a 
boats  did  not 
ra  remained, 
id  the  teamen 
)  enemy  waa 
flank  cove<«d 
e  formed,  the 
ocurred.  At 
Kh  pikes  and 
nd  Mr.  Hold. 

ohargiDg  tbt 


I 


mij 


NATAL    HIITORT. 


3»7 


•rtillerisU.took  the  guns  in  the  mo»t  gnllnnt  manner,  mortally 
wounding  and  capturing  Lioutuiiiint  King,  who  commanded 
them.  At  the  tame  intUnt  the  remaining  teamen  and  the 
troops  chargod  in  flront,  when  the  enemy  broke  and  took  reAiga 
in  the  barraoka. 

The  enemy'a  ftre  waa  now  Tory  destructive,  and  it  became 
indispensable  to  dislodge  him.  »B»eral  spirited  young  mid- 
shipmen  were  with  the  party ;  and  three  of  them,  Meaan. 
Wragg,  Holdup,  and  Dudley,  with  a  few  men,  succeeded  in 
bursting  opet»  «  window,  through  which  they  made  an  entrance. 
This  galUmt  little  party  unbarred  an  outer  door,  when  Mr. 
Angus  and  the  aeamen  rushed  in.  In  an  instant,  the  straw  on 
whMsh  the  soldiers  slept  waa  on  fire,  and  the  barracks  were 
immediately  wrapt  in  flamea.  The  enemy,  a  party  of  gren^ 
diers,  was  on  the  upper  floor,  and  finding  it  necessary  to  r^ 
mat,  he  made  a  vigorous  charge,  aud  e«»ped  by  the  roar  of 
the  buiWing.  Here  ho  rallied,  and  was  attacked  by  Captain 
King,  who  had  formeu  outside. 

The  party  of  seamen  and  soldiers  now  got  aeparated,  in  coo- 
■equencn  or  an  order  having  been  given  to  retreat,  though  it  \m 
not  known  from  what  quarter  it  proceeded,  and  a  portion  of 
both  the  seamen  and  the  soldiers  fell  back  upon  the  boata  and 
i»«mbarkod.  Mr.  Angus,  finding  every  eflort  useless  to  stop 
this  letreiit,  retired  with  his  men.  But  Captain  King,  with  a 
party  of  the  troops,  still  remained  engaged,  and  with  him  wera 
a  few  aeamen,  with  Mesars.  Wragg,  Dudley,  and  Holdup  at 
their  head.  These  young  officers  fell  in  with  the  soldiers,  and 
a  charge  being  ordered,  the  enemy  again  broke  and  fled  into  a 
battery.  He  waa  followed,  and  driven  ftoro  place  to  place, 
until,  entirely  routed,  he  left  Captain  Xing  in  complete  com- 
mand  of  all  the  batteriea  at  that  point. 

Believing  that  their  part  of  the  duty  waa  performed,  th« 
young  sea-officers  who  had  remained,  now  retired  to  the  shore, 
and  cnaaed  to  the  American  rde,  in  the  best  ftianner  they 
ooald.  Meat  of  the  seamen,  who  were  not  killed,  got  back, 
by  means  of  their  profoasioqal  knowksdge ;  but  Captain  King, 
and  several  officers  of  the  trmy,  with  60  men,  fell  into  tt« 
enemy's  hands,  in  consequence  of  not  h&ving  the  meana  or 
retreat.  The  attack  of  Colonel  Boerstier  succeeded,  in  a  great 
degree,  and  his  party  waa  brought  off.  -     .    . 

Although  thia  afflur  appears  to  have  been  veryconfliaed,  the 
fighting  was  of  the  most  deaperate  character.  The  impression 
made  by  the  seamen  with  their  pikes,  was  kmg  remembered, 


NATAL    MliTOlf.  (»•!• 

«Bd  iMr  Um  WM  aqual  to  iMr  fdUalry.  TW  MMiy  wm 
•flbctually  bwilen.  •n<l  nothiof  but  «  miMindsraUiMilac,  wWoh 
ia  MOd  to  h«v«  gr«)wn  out  of  Uw  fl«t  thai  the  boata  which  did 
Bot  ooma  athorw  at  all,  wam  aunpowd  to  hava  laadad  and  than 
FBtreatwl,  proventwl  the  atUck  Irom  boing  complalaJjr  auooeaa- 
fill.     Still,  Ihn  liattBiiea  ware  carried,  |UM  apikad,  bMTtoka 

kuriKHl,  aiid  caiaaona  deatroyed.  „ 

Owing  to  the  nature  of  Iho  aarvioe  and  the  graat  aHialtoaaa 
•T  the  oneray,  who  behaved  eitremely  wall,  thla  ■*"»«(•*•• 
exceedingly  aanguinary.  Of  twalva  aea-oflloara  et^MM*  "HP* 
were  wounded,  two  of  them  morUlly.    The  aotira  Iqm  of  the 

Crty  waa  about  80  in  killed  and  wounded,  whkh  waa  quUa 
If  of  all  who  landed,  though  aoma  were  hur*  who  did  not 
mch  the  ahore.  The  troopa  behaved  in  the  moat  gaitanl 
■irnner  alio,  and  many  of  their  oflkera  were  wounded.  Both 
Mr.  Anpua  and  Captain  King,  gained  great  oradU  (br  their 
intrepidity.  ,    _        . 

Aa  none  of  the  great  lakea  are  aaA  to  navigata  ia  Daeainter, 
thia  oloaed  the  naval  wurikra  for  thfa  year,  though  both  nationa 
praparml  to  turn  the  winter  BNMUia  to  the  beat  aooouDt*  wbtl* 
the  ooaato  w«ra  ioe-bound. 


CHAPTER  XU. 

Bon  partiaa  employed  the  winter  of  1819-11  in  building. 
In  the  oourae  of  the  autumn,  the  Americaaa  had  incraaaad 
their  fi>roe  to  eleven  tail,  ten  of  wWoh  ware  the  amall  achoon- 
era  bought  iirom  the  mercbanta,  and  fitted  with  gun-boat  arma* 
menta,  witUfcut  quartera.  In  addilkw  to  the  veaaela  already 
named,  were  the  Ontario,  Boourga,  Fiar  American  and  Aap. 
Neither  of  the  ten  waa  fit  to  cruiae  j  and  an  ordinary  akhteen- 
gun  brig  ought  to  have  been  able  to  cope  with  them  all.  In  a 
good  working  breene,  at  oloae  quartera.  At  long  ahot,  how- 
ever,  and  in  aneoth  water,  thrr  were  not  without  a  oeitaut 
efficiency.  Aa  waa  proved  in  the  ewi,  in  attwiking  »•»•'»*. 
and  in  covering  deaoenta,  they  were  found  to  be  exceedingly 

On  the  88th  of  November,  the  new  ahip  w«i  Inunoked  at 


(im 

JiBf.  which 
■  whiohdid 
•d  and  than 

lljr  •UOOCWh 

id,  h«molu 


itak 

ih  «u  quite 
fvho  did  not 
noat  |dlM>t 
mM.  Both 
lit  Ibr  tbair 


boUlMtioiU 

Qouatf  whik 


in  kuUdinf . 
•d  inofaaaad 
■mil  aohoon* 
n<biMit  •riM* 
laoia  alrmdy 
Ml  and.  Aap. 
iry  aif  htean- 
ham  nil.  in  « 
f  ahol,  how< 
Mil  •  oaitain 
inf  battariea, 
lexoaedingly 

1  InuDokid  nl 


int.] 


MAVAL     HIITOmV. 


3M 


SMkatt'a  Harbour,  and  waa  callad  Iha  Madiaon.  She  wm 
Mmtfrn^  for  il4  funa.  and  her  mrtal  waa  wmipoaad  of  thittj' 
|wo-|Kiun.l  carnina.l««,  .■siHW.ring  bar  a  litlU.  tu^nnr  U)  the 
Ruyal  U«wr«o.  Niiw  w.mk.  Motv  thia  ahip  waa  put  into  iha 
wator,  har  timber  waa  g n>wintf  in  lh«  (on»i.  I  hia  umiaual 
einrdiiion,  und«r  ao  many  unflivourable  cirrumaianora,  la  to 
bo  iw.;rib«d  to  the  eicellent  diapoaillona  of  (he  comniandmii 
ofti.  .-r,  and  lo  th«  .Icar  h«iJ.  and  «ttraordinary  reaourr^a  of 
Mr.  Hwiry  Eokfl)r.J,  tho  builder  cinployod,  whoae  profeaaional 
nualitiea  proved  to  be  of  the  higheat  ..raer. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  enemy  laid  liie  keel  of  a  ahip  a  litUe 
Uriier  than  the  Madiaon,  which  would  have  effectually  aecured 
th<i  roiumand  of  Jlie  lake,  notwithaUnding  the  launching  oflho 
UtH'r,  aa  their  amull  voaaeU  were  altogether  auperior  lo  thoao 
of  the  Americana;  and  the  Roval  (leorge  waa  pertiapa  atrong 
•nough  to  engage  two  briga  of  the  force  of  the  Oneida.  It 
became  neoeaaarv.  therefore,  to  lay  down  a  new  ahip  at  Baek- 
•tt'a  Harbour,  and  for  thia  purpoaa  a  fipaab  gang  of  ahlpwrighta 
went  up  in  February.  ,   «,,   . 

About  thia  lime,  the  enemy  made  choice  of  CapUln  Sir  JaffiM 
ImU»  Yeo,  to  command  on  the  American  laket. 

In  the  meantime,  praparationa  wer«  made  for  r^natructhig  a 
force  on  Uke  Erie,  two  briga  baring  been  laid  down  at 
Pieeque  lale,  (now  Erie,)  during  the  month  of  Maroh. 

Freah  partiee  of  aaamon  bi«an  to  arrive  at  Kingaton  In 
Maroh,  whew  the  new  ahip  waa  Out  getting  ready. 

On  the  eth  of  April  Mr.  Eckford  put  into  the  water,  on  the 
American  aide,  a  beautiAil  little  pilot-boat  achooner,  that  wm 
intended  for  a  k»k-out  and  deapatoh  Teaael.  She  w"  ""« 
with  meraly  one  long  braaa  nine  on  a  nivot,  and  waaceltod  tta 
Lady  of  the  Laka.  Two  daya  latar,  Uie  keel  of  the  new  ahip 
waa  laid.    She  waa  owiaiderably  larger  than  the  Madiaon. 

About  the  middle  of  the  month,  the  lake  waa  conaidered 
•afe  to  narigale,  and  on  the  10th,  the  aquadion  wa,  reported 
nady  for  actire  aerrioe.  On  the  Sad,  aocordlngly.  General 
Dearborn  cauaed  a  body  of  1700  men  to  be  embarked,  a^  on 
the  94th,  owing  to  the  impatience  of  the  army,  which  auflered 
much  by  being  crowded  into  email  veaaela,  an  attempt  waa 
made  to  g«  out.  The  commodore,  however,  agreeably  to  hia 
own  aapeotationa,  waa  obliged  to  return,  it  »»>o7«>r  ■ .  f  ^ 
Theee  tew  daya  bad  a  Tory  injurioua  eflect  on  the  heaitn  oi 
both  branchaa  of  the  aervice,  aa  there  waa  not  aufflcient  room 
for  tto  mao  to  Nuain  batow,  and  on  deck  they  were  expoaed 


360 


IIAVAL    NIITOKT. 


[Itll. 


to  Ih*  UiclmnMMy  of  iIm  mmmM.  Tlw  M«tli«in  aloiwi,  «  mar* 
■loop  of  war,  had  (HNJ  auuUi  in  hmt,  inriuUiiig  itnr  own  |MH>pi«. 
On  Um  UA(h,  howfimr,  ths  aquMirun,  cHiiuuMtiitK  uf  lh«  MiMli* 
aon,  LMiuUuiant  OtKninambutl  IvIImMI,  (.'<>intniMlorn  Chauiicny  i 
Onauk,  LtauUiuant  ( '(Mninandanl  W<H)la«y  ;  Fair  Snmrwmn, 
LkuUmaul  (^bauncny  {  lUroilUio,  I.wut«(iant  M't'ln^raitn  )  (io> 
wmur  Tom(>iiina,  LxHiiananl  Brown  j  (.'(HKiuont,  Mr.  Mallabv  | 
Ai^,  I^MUlenanl  thnith  |  IVirt,  Li«ut«n«nl  AiUma ;  Julia,  Mr. 
Tranli  (irowbr,  Mr.  Mii  i  (hiUrio,  Mr.  Hunrt^tiaj  NtmurK*, 
Mr.  Oaguuii  i  Irfniy  oCihe  I>ik«,  Mr.  Flinn ;  ami  Kavon,  iraiia- 
pwt,  got  uul,  and  it  arriviHl  off  York,  on  Ihtt  nM>rninK  of  tho 
]10th,  without  loaa  o(  any  aurt.  All  thn  voaaela  ran  in  and  an* 
oKoratl  about  a  mtla  fWrni  tbo  ahora,  to  IIm  aouthward  and  wmrt* 
irtrtl  of  iha  priAoip*!  fort. 

Umat  aloadiiMMM  and  promplitudr  wera  dkptaytid  in  electing 
t  landing.  Thn  wind  waa  blowing  rrmh  Irom  tho  eaatwaro, 
but  the  bo«!9  were  botate^  •■ut,  inaiinMiJ,  and  received  th« 
Iroopa,  with  ao  much  order,  that  in  two  houra  from  the  com* 
menoeinent  of  the  diaombarkation,  the  rwhole  brigade  waa  oa 
ahora,  under  the  oonunand  of  Hrigadier  (leneral  Pike.  Tha 
wind  drove  the  boata  to  leeward  of  the  place  that  had  been 
adieeted  for  the  landing,  which  waa  a  clear  Aeld,  to  a  |ioint 
where  the  Indiana  and  aharp-ahootera  of  the  enemy  had  a  oo* 
ver  I  but  the  advance  partv  waa  thrown  aahora  with  fjjreat  gal* 
laotry,  and  it  aoon  cleared  the  bank  and  Ihicketa,  with  a  Toes 
of  about  40  men.  Thk  movement  waa  covered  by  a  rapid 
diacharfe  of  grape  (Vom  :he  veaaela.  Aa  aoon  a«  a  autncient 
onmber  of  troopa  had  got  aahora,  they  wera  formed  by  Utmeril 
Pike  in  peraoo,  who  mored  oo  to  the  aaeault  Tin  email  vee> 
eala  now  beat  up,  under  a  briak  fire  from  the  fort  and  'v<tteri»a. 
ttnUI  thev  bad  got  within  aiir  hundred  yarda  of  th«.  ,  ■el 

work,  wneo  th^  opened  w^.ti  otRict  cm  the  enemy,  r    * 
buted  largely  to  the  aueoeea  of  the  da^.    The  '  ..-^ 

directed  toe  movementa  in  peraon,  pulling  in  in  (ua  gig,  and 
ennouraging  hia  offioera  by  the  coolneee  with  which  he  moved 
about,  under  the  eoemy'a  fire.  There  never  waa  a  diaent* 
barkation  more  auooeaefljlly,  or  more  apiritedlv  made,  conai* 
daring  the  atate  of  tha  vreather,  and  the  limited  meana  of  the 
r.jiaailanta.  In  effecting  thia  aervioe,  the  aquadroo  had  two 
iuidahi"  n'Ko  alain,  and  16  men  killed  and  wounded,  moelly 
vi  u  jLiployed  in  the  boata.  After  auataining  aome  loea  by 
iia  aiploeioa  that  killed  Brigadier  Oenerel  Pike,  the  troope  ae 
Pn  oarried  the  piaoe,  that  it  capitulated.     It  remained  in  peaco> 


spipWi 


put. 

ilonn, «  vnmrm 
own  |«tM>|>i«. 
uf  lh«  Mmli- 
I  ('hauncMy  i 
r  Amertcan, 

ilr.  Mallabv  | 
i{  Julw,  Mr. 
M  i  Mciiurgit, 
iavnn,  Irnna- 
rning  of  (ho 
lu  III  on<l  SB' 
ird  •mJ  wfMl- 

d  in  effcctinf 
Iw  MMiwanl, 
r«»i*«l  the 
tmi  tha  com* 
imda  WM  on 
1  Pike.  Th« 
ml  bad  biwn 
d,  to  a  |ioint 
ny  had  a  oo- 
itn  fnmi  oaU 
I,  with  a  Toaa 
1  by  a  rapid 
m  a  ■utnciont 
d  by  (}«nenil 
Im  miwII  rea- 
ind  'rtteri*!, 

Ilk.   |..-  /f,  (1*1 

r,  »■•  i^i't-Mfi. 

hia  gig,  and 
ch  ha  moY«d 
aa  a  diaom- 
mad«,  conai- 
mana  of  tha 
ron  had  two 
■ded,  RKMtly 
■onw  loaa  by 
the  troopa  ao 
nedinpcac^- 


lilt] 


NAVAL   NitTORT. 


rbl«  poaaaaaioa  of  llw  Anwrkama  uiiltl  i\\fi  Ul  of  May,  whan 
It  waa  ataiuated  Ui  procaiMi  on  <Hhrr  duly. 

Thfl  rapluw  of  York  waa  atuwdtxi  with  many  impuriani 
raaulU,  l!ut  ftilly  i^labliahwl  tha   wiBd«iin  of  ihn  enirrpriaa. 
Although  th«  I'riiw^  Ur-ntinl,  thn  thirtl  »«»aa^l  «>f  ll>"  «r»roy, 
eacaH.  by  haviiw  •aiU'd  '-"  i»>«  'Ufh  lor  Kiiig.t..ii.  lh«  Huke 
of  (llouceater,  wl.ioh  had  bwn  undergoing;   rfi«ir»,  tnll  Into 
the  handa  of  the  Ameriran*.     A  »eaaia  ol  twrnty  guna,  that 
waa  wiarly  ftniahed,  waa  burnt,  and  a  large  aiwmiil  of  iwval 
nnd  niiliUry  aU.rra  waa  alao  d.!atroywl.     A  vr-ry  lonaidtirabla 
quantity  of  the  latter,  however,  waa  aave.!,  ahipj>ed,  and  aem 
to  Haeketl'a  llarlmur.     Many  lioata  Ihat  hml  lieen  Ituilt  tor  tha 
tranapnrtation  of  troopa  were  alao  taken.     In  tho  ei.lire  ««n. 
ageiiirnt  of  thia  hawJaoma  eiploit,  the  diflbrent  veaanla  appear 
to  have  been  well  condu.tetl,  and  they  contributed  largely  to 
the  comptetii  •ucctm*  whi«ih  crowned  lh«  enUrjtriae. 

Alth«>ugh  the  brigade  ro-enibarked  on  tho  lat  of  May,  th« 
■auailron  waa  detoiued  at  York  until  the  mh.  by  a  heavy  aiU 
vorae  gale  of  wind.  The  men  were  kept  mtuh  on  deck  for 
more  than  a  week,  and  the  expoauro  prcKlu«»d  many  caaca  of 
fever,  in  Iwlh  branchea  of  the  aervice.  More  than  a  hundred 
of  the  aailora  wert)  reported  ill,  and  the  brigade,  which  had 
loat  aeu  men  in  the  attack,  the  wouwled  include*!,  waa  now 
rtiduced  by  diaeaae  to  about  1000  etfrctivoa.  Aa  Kwn  aa  tho 
weather  permitted,  the  commanding  naval  and  army  oflicort 
croaaed  in  tho  Lady  of  tho  Lake,  and  aolected  a  place  for  ao 
encampment  about  four  rnilea  to  the  •>aatward  of  Fort  Niagara, 
when  the  veaaela  Immediately  followed  and  the  troopa  duKsir- 

A«  aoon  aa  releaaed  (Vom  thia  great  incumbrance  on  hw 
movetnenta.  Commodore  Chauncoy  aailed  for  the  Harbour, 
with  a  view  to  obtain  aupplioa,  and  to  bring  up  roinforcementa 
for  tho  army.  A  few  of  the  achoonera  remained  near  the 
head  of  the  lake,  but  the  greater  part  of  tho  aqitadron  went 
below,  where  U  arrived  on  th«  Ilth,  Tho  amall  veaaela  were 
now  employed  in  conveying  atorea  and  troopa  to  the  diviaion 
under  Oenoral  Deorbom,  which  waa  reinforcing  faat  by  arri. 
vala  fnMn  different  directiona. 

On  the  15th  of  thia  month  the  enemy  had  advanced  ao  ftr 
with  hii  now  ahip,  which  waa  called  the  Wolfe,  aa  to  have  got 
in  her  lower  maata,  and  expedition  became  neccaaary,  an  ac. 
tkm  for  the  command  of  the  lake  boina  exoected,  "•«>'»■» 
this  veaael  waa  reedy  to  conne  cut.    On  the  16th,  100  men 

n 


■»,(,-. 


I«>llllllllll»»i*'''l 


NATuL     HIBTOftT. 


[!blS- 


vnni  tent  to  the  up  «r  Ibkes,  where  Cap'Ain  Perry,  then  » 
young  master  and  oo  nmander,  had  been  ordered  tu  aaaume 
the  command,  some  months  previously.  On  the  28d,  the  Ma- 
dison, with  the  comnwdoro's  pennant  stiil  flying  in  her,  em- 
bark<sd  350  troops,  and  sailed  for  the  camp  to  the  eastward  of 
the  mouth  of  tlie  Niagara,  where  she  arrived  and  disembarked 
the  men  on  ihe  26th.  The  Fair  American,  Lieutenant  Chaun- 
, ,  and  Pert,  Artinc  Lieutenant  Aiams,  were  immediately 
ordered  down  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy  at  King- 
ston, and  p<!«parations  were  made,  without  delay,  for  a  descent 
on  Fort  George.  On  the  26th  Ccmmodore  Chauaoey  recon- 
noitred the  enemy's  coast,  and  his  position ;  and  that  night  he 
sounded  his  shore,  in  person,  laying  buoys  for  the  government 
of  the  movements  of  the  small  vessels,  which  it  was  intended 
to  send  close  in.  The  weather  beinc  more  favourable,  the 
Madison,  Oneida,  and  Lady  of  the  Lake,  which  could  be  of 
no  use  in  the  meditated  attack,  on  account  of  their  armaments, 
received  on  board  all  the  heavy  artillery  of  the  army,  and  as 
many  troops  as  they  coi'ld  carry,  while  the  rest  of  the  soldiers 
«mbarked  m  boats. 

At  8  A.  M.,  on  the  27th  of  Majr,  the  signal  was  made  to 
w«igh,  and  the  army  having  previously  embarked,  at  4  the 
squadron  stood  towards  the  Niagara.  As  the  vessels  ap- 
proached the  point  of  disembarkation,  the  wind  so  far  failed, 
as  to  compel  tne  amali  vessels  to  employ  their  sweeps.  The 
Growler,  Mr.  Mix,  and  Julia,  Mr.  Trant,  sw«pt  iuto  tfie  mouth 
of  the  river,  and  opened  on  a  battery  near  the  lighthouse. 
Tbd  Ontario,  Mr.  Stevens,  anchored  more  to  the  northward  to' 
cross  their  fin.  The  Hamilton,  Licutenapt  M'Pherson,  the 
Aq>,  Lieutenant  Smith,  and  the  Seouroe,  Mr.  Osgood,  were  di- 
rected to  stand  close  in,  to  cover  the  landing,  to  scour  the 
woods,  or  any  point  where  the  enemy  might  show  himself^ 
with  grape-shot;  while  the  Governor  Tompkins,  Lieutenant 
Brown,  and  Conquest,  Lieutenant  Pettigrew,  were  sent  farther 
to  the  woBtward  to  attack  a  battery  that  mounted  one  heavy 
gun. 

Captain  Perry  bad  come  down  from  the  upper  lake  on  the 
evening  of  the  20th,  and  on  this  occasion  was  the  sea-ofiic«r 
second  in  rank,  present.  Commodore  Chaunoey  confided  to 
htm  the  duty  of  attending  to  the  disembarkation  of  the  troeips. 
The  marines  of  the  squadron  were  embodied  with  the  regiment 
of  Colood  Macomb,  And  400  seamen  held  in  reserve,  to  land. 


•WW 


[IMS. 

Perry,  then  * 
ad  tu  aaaumo 

23d,  tho  Ma. 
[  in  her,  em* 
e  eaatward  of 
I  diaembarked 
tenant  Chaun- 
)  immediately 
icmy  at  King- 
,  for  a  descent 
I'laoey  recon* 

that  night  he 
le  government 
:  was  intended 
itrourable,  the 
I  could  be  of 
dr  armaments, 
army,  and  as 
of  tfaie  soidien 

was  made  to 
ked,  at  4  tho 
e  vessels  ap> 
!  so  far  failed, 
sweeps.  The 
iuto  tlM)  mouth 
he  lighthouse. 
i  northward  to' 
rPherson,  the 
igood,  were  di> 
g,  to  scour  the 
show  himself, 
as.  Lieutenant 
ire  sent  farther 
ited  one  heavy 

ter  lake  on  the 
the  sea-officer 
ey  confided  to 
1  of  the  trocips. 
h  the  regiment 
nerve,  to  land. 


18IS.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


if  necessary,  under  the  immediate  orders  of  the  commodore  in 

person.  .   .     .  »• 

When  all  was  ready,  the  schooners  swept  mto  their  stations, 
in  the  handsomest  manner,  opening  their  fire  with  effect.   The 
boaU  that  contained  the  advance  party,  under  Colonel  Scott, 
were  soon  in  motion,  taking  a  direction  towards  the  battery  near 
Two  Mile  Creek,  against  which  the  Governor  Tompkms  and 
Conquest  had  been  ordered  to  proceed.    Tho  admirable  man- 
ner  in  which  the  first  of  these  two  little  vessels  was  conducted, 
drew  the  applause  of  all  who  witnessed  it,  on  Mr.  Brown  and 
hit  people.    This  officer  swept  into  his  station,  under  fi"«.  " 
the  steadiest  manner,  anchored,  furled  his  sails,  cleared  htt 
decks,  and  prepared  to  engage,  with  as  much  coolness  and 
method,  as  if  coming-tu  in  a  friendly  port.    He  then  opened 
with  his  long  gun,  with  a  precision  that,  in  about  ten  nunutes, 
literally  drove  the  enemy  from  the  tarttery,  leaving  the  place  to 
bis  dead.    The  boats  dashed  in,  under  Captain  Perry,  and 
Colonel  Scott  efiected  a  landing  with  the  steadinem  and  gal- 
lantry  fi>r  which  that  officer  is  so  distinguished.    The  enemy 
had  concealed  a  strong  party  in  a  ravine,  and  he  advanced  to 
lepel  the  boaU ;  but  the  grape  and  the  canister  of  the  schooners, 
and  the  steady  conduct  of  the  troops,  soon  drove  him  back. 
The  noment  the  command  of  Colonel  Scott  got  ashore,  the  suc- 
cess of  the  day  was  assiiixid.    He  wiis  sustained  by  the  re- 
mainder of  the  brigade  to  which  he  belonged,  then  commanded 
by  BriMdier  General  Boyd,  and  aAer  a  short  but  sharp  con- 
flict,  the  enemy  was  driven  from  the  field.    The  landing  vras 
made  about  0  A.  M.^  and  by  19  M.  the  town  and  fort  were  m 
quiet  posseasioo  of  the  Americans,  the  British  blowing  up  and 
evacuating  the  latter,  and  retreating  towards  Queenston. 

In  thisWdsome  affiur,  in  which  the  duty  of  the  vessels  was 
peHbnned  wkh  coohMss  and  method,  the  navT  had  but  one  man 
killed  and  two  wounded.  So  ^ritod,  indeed,  was  the  manner 
in  which  the  whole  duty  was  conducted,  that  the  assailants 

Snerally  sufibred  much  less  than  tho  assailed,  a  circumstance 
it  is,  m  a  great  measure,  to  be  ascribed  to  the  good  conduct 
of  the  covering  vessels.  General  Dearborn  reported  his  loss, 
on  this  oocanon,  at  only  17  killed  and  48  wounded,  while  he 
puts  that  of  the  enemy  at  00  killed,  and  166  wounded,  most  of 
whom  were  regular  troops.    One  hundred  prisonen  were  also 

Both  the  commanding  general,  and  the  commanding  sea- 
officer,  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  conduct  of  the  naval 


364 


NAVAL    HIBTOEY. 


[1813. 


force  employed  in  th*  doacent  on  Fort  George.  General  Dear- 
bom  admitted  the  extent  of  hit  obligations  to  Commodore 
Chaunoey  for  the  excellent  ditpoaitiona  ho  had  made  for  land- 
ing the  troopa,  always  a  service  of  delicacy  apd  haxard,  and 
his  judicious  arrangements  for  silencing  the  batteries,  undei 
the  fire  of  which  it  was  necessary  to  approach  the  shore.  Thn 
trifling  amount  of  the  loss,  is  the  best  evidence  how  much  thesii 
thanks  were  merited.  Commodore  Chauncey  himself  com- 
mended all  under  hia  orders,  though  he  felt  it  due  to  their  es- 
pecial services,  particularly  to  mention  Captain  Perry,  and 
Lieutenant  M'Pberson.  Lieutenant  Brown,  of  the  Governor 
Tompkins,  was  signally  distinguished,  though  his  name,  from 
some  accident,  was  omitted  in  the  desJMtchM. 

The  occupation  of  Fort  Georm  brought  with  it  an  evacuation 
bv  the  British  of  the  whole  Niaoara  ftontier.  Lieutenant 
dolonel  Preston  took  possession  of  Port  Erie  on  the  evening  of 
the  88th,  and  the  entire  river,  for  the  moment,  was  left  at  the 
command  of  the  Americans.  By  this  success,  the  squadron 
obtained  the  temporary  use  of  another  port.  Commodore  Chaun- 
cey running  into  the  Niagara  and  anchoring,  <Ht  the  afternoon 
of  the  37th.  Captain  Ptorry  was  immediately  despatched  above 
the  foils,  with  a  small  party  of  seamen,  to  carry  up  five  vessels 
that  bad  beeq  purchased,  or  captured,  and  whicn  it  had  not 
been  practieable,  hitherto,  to  get  past  the  enemy's  batteries. 
This  duty  was  performed  during  the  first  days  of  June,  though 
not  without  innnite  labour,  as  it  was  found  neoessary  to  track 
the  difibrent  vessels  by  the  aid  of  oxen,  every  inch  of  the  way, 
against  the  strong  current  of  the  Niagara,  a  party  of  soldien 
Iniding  their  assistanoe.  By  the  dose  of  the  month,  that  cea* 
lous  officer  had  got  them  all  across  the  lake  to  Presque  ble, 
where  the  two  brigs,  laid  dowA  early  iu  the  qwiag,  were 
launched  in  the  course  of  May,  though  thar  equipment  pro- 
ceeded very  slowly,  from  the  state  of  me  roads  aiid  a  want  of 


[1813. 


1818.] 


MAVAL     Hl8T0»r. 


865 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

Wmu  theM  importMt  morements  were  in  the  coune  of 
exec  ™  neaTthe  'wertem  end  of  the  lake,  olhonjof  equal 

SJrtGeonw  took  place  on  the  a7th  of  May,  and  almoat  at  the 
Si  mXrSir  G«>r«e  Prevct,  the  Bn^  Commander-m. 
rhrfSKUMloieSlf  J.  L.  Yeo,  meditated  a  co.^  J  «"»« 
ZLi  Sackett'a  Harbour,  in  revenge  for  th«.W°T  ^^"^ 
reived  at  York.  By  dertroying  the  new  ship,  Commodore 
yS  wwild  molt  probily  «cuw.  a  wperiority  on  the  lake  for 
thTiTiS^  nder  oAhe  ^Lon,  the  American,  havmg  no  crui.. 
Sj^Sel  but  the  Madiwn,  fit  to  lie  agamat  the  Wolfe  or 

**??  SrSming  of  the  a8th  of  May.  tl«  Wolfe  Royal 
n<Mr0»  Moihu  Prince  Resent,  Simooe,  and  Seneca,  with  two 
S^KtT  Md  rS^  iSgJde  of  barge,  and  Uat-bottomed 
KtJ^^«d  cS^ketrilarbourl^Whm  about  two 
S^Cthe  .ho«,  a  con.i*,r.ble  P*ty  of  »««?.  wa. 
SSd  in  the  boat.,  and  the  whole  squadron  bore  up,  wrth  a 
SSto  land ;  but  their  attention  wa.  aiverted  by  the  appear- 
^Z  to  t!e  i;ertward  of  a  brigade  containing  ^«^  ^^ 
which  were  tranM)orting  troop,  to  the  Harbour.  TheMemy 
SSduSTy^otL  own  ba/ge.  in  P«nwit,  and  wcoeoded  m 
Smtlwelve  boat,  on  dioreTlnd  in  capturing  them,  thoujA 
nSt^ta  they  had  been  abandoned  by  tte  American..    The 

SSj  Sen  got  into  the  Harbour.  J^-^J^^^^ 
another  party,  the  enemy  now  hauled  to  the  wertward,  ana 
St  wi  bSto  ahewi  to  li  b  w«t.  and  the  intwition  to  d«m. 
bark  that  afternoon  wa.  abandoned. 

Aa  the  day  dawned,  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  a  "tiw^ 
divWon  of  bLge..  filled  with  troops  and  ^I^^J*  »,yttetj2 
sun-boat.,  wa.  «en  advancins  upon  Hone  laland,  a  peninauta 
SiSSdirtanceftomthevaiase  of  Sackett'.  HarUn  A 
todyTabout  800  men  dftctoJ  a  landing.  accoB»anirf  by 
Wf^ttf,  Pn^ort  in  pewon,  and  an  in««larand  deeuhory. 
bSspiritS  engagement  took  place.  At  fiTnt,  the  enemy  dnjve 
Si  fibre  him.*and  he  advanced  qui^e  near  the  town,  but  being 
81* 


mm 


mmifW' 


306 


MATAL   HIITOKT. 


(181S. 


inet  by  a  detachment  of  regulara,  ho  waa  driven  back  with 
loM,  and  compelled  to  aban«>n  his  enterprise. 

In  this  aflair,  had  the  enemy's  vessels  done  as  good  service 
as  the  American  vessels  performed  near  the  Niagara,  the  result 
might  have  been  di^rent ;  but,  though  some  of  them  swept  up 

Cretty  near  the  shore,  they  were  of  no  assistanoo  to  the  troop*. 
Jafortunately  false  information  was  given  lo-the  sea-offioer  io 
cham  of  the  store-houses,  and  he  set  fire  to  them,  by  which 
iqistalce,  not  only  most  of  the  stores  taken  at  York,  but  many 
that  bad  come  from  the  sea-board,  were  consumed.  But  for 
this  accident,  the  enemy  would  have  had  no  consolation  for 
his  defeat. 

Information  reached  Commodore  Chauncey  on  the  80th  of 
May,  that  the  enemy  was  out,  and  he  immediately  got  undnr 
way  flt>m  the  Niagara,  looked  into  York,  then  ran  off  King- 
•ton,  but  foiling  in  with  nothing,  he  err  nd  to  the  Harbour, 
where  be  anchored ;  being  satisfied  that  the  English  squadron 
had  returned  to  port. 

Every  exertion  was  now  made  to  get  the  new  ship  afloat, 
CkNumodore  Chauncey  rightly  thinking  he  should  not  be  justi- 
fied in  venturing  an  action  with  his  present  force.  Although 
he  had  fourteen  sail  of  vessels,  which  mounted  altogether  62 

£ns,  only  two  had  Quarters,  or  were  at  all  suited  to  close  ac- 
D.  As  both  the  Madison  and  Oneida  had  been  constructed 
for  a  vary  light  draught  of  water,  neither  was  weatherly, 
thoush  the  former  acquitted  herself  respectably ;  but  the  latter 
waa  dull  on  all  tacks,  and  what  might  not  have  been  expected 
ftom  her  construction,  particularly  so  before  the  wind.  The 
sdMxmers  were  borne  down  with  metal,  and  owild  be  of  no 
great  service  except  at  long  shot.  On  tbe  other  hand,  all  the 
enemy's  vessels  had  quarters,  most  of  them  drew  more  water, 
relatively,  and  held  a  better  wind  than  the  Americans,  and  as 
a  whole  thOT  were  believed  to  mount  about  the  seme  number 
of  ^ns.  In  the  way  of  metal  the  English  largb  ships  were 
decidedly  superior  to  the  two  lugetlL  American  vessels,  mount- 
ing several  sixty-eight-pound  carronadea  among  their  other 
guns. 

The  keel  of  the  new  ship  had  been  laid  on  the  9th  of  April, 
and  she  was  got  into  the  water  June  12th.  This  ship  was  a 
larae  corvette,  and  was  pierced  for  26  guts,  long  twenty-fours, 
and  she  nMNinted  two  more  on  drclea ;  one  on  a  to^llaat 
foracasUe,  and  the  other  on  the  poop.  The  day  before  th6 
hnneh,  C^itain  Sinclair  arriTod  and  was  i4>pouited  to  this  Tea^ 


mfmm 


IBlt.] 


NAVAL     HIBTO»T. 


807 


sel,  which  wm  called  the  General  Pike.    Lieutenant  Tren- 
chaid,  who  arrived  at  the  Mine  time,  received  the  command 

of  the  Madiaon.  .... 

Although  th*  Pike  was  ao  near  completion,  there  were  nei- 
ther  officers  nor  men  for  her,  on  the  staUon ;  and  the  canvaaa 
intended  for  her  aaila  had  been  principally  burned  dunng  the 
late  attack  oo  the  Harbour.  At  this  time,  moreover,  while  the 
service  preased,  only  ISO  men  had  been  sent  on  lake  bne, 
Gommwkne  Chauncey  having  entertained  hopes  of  bemg  able 
to  reinforce  that  station  from  below,  after  defeating  the  enemy. 

Lake  Champlain  had  attracted  but  little  of  the  attention  of 
either  of  the  bdligerents  until  this  summer,  as  it  did  not  come 
in  the  line  of  the  roUitary  operations  of  the  day.  Sonje  snwU 
vesseb,  however,  \mA  been  fitted  out,  on  each  side  of  the  JVon- 
tier ;  and  on  the  Sd  of  June,  Lieutenant  Sidney  Smith,  who 
then  oonunanded  on  the  lake,  ventured  down  into  the  narrow 
part  of  that  water,  with  two  armed  skibpa  called  the  Eagle  and 
the  Growler,  whew  he  was  completely  exposed  to  the  fire  or 
musketry  from  a  body  of  troops  on  the  laud.  It  appears  thai 
the  Ea^  sunk,  her  seams  having  opened  by  the  duchargea 
of  her  guns,  and  the  Growler  was  compelled  to  strike,  Va0 
wind  biwig  fwsh  at  south,  rendering  a  retreat  imposwWe.  On 
this  oooiuon,  near  a  hundred  pnsomrs  were  made  by  the 
enemy,  a  considerable  portion  of  whom  were  volunteers  from 

After  this  loss,  the  government  turned  its  attention  towards 
the  construction  of  a  naval  force  on  that  lake,  but  ito  move- 
ments were  slow,  the  state  of  the  warfare  not  appearing  to 
require  much  eiertiOT  in  that  quarter.  After  the  capturerf 
Mr.  Smith,  however.  Lieutenant  Thomas  M'Donough,  an  offi- 
oer  who  bad  distinguished  himself  as  the  associate  of  Decatur, 
in  his  chivalrous  exploits  before  Tripoli,  was  det^hed  for  tlua 
servioe,  md  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  lake.  Shortly 
after,  Mr.  M'Donough  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  master  and 
oommaoder ;  but  so  few  men  were  attMshed  to  this  station,  that 
wbsa  this  gullant  oflloer  first  reached  it,  and  even  for  some 
dme  afterwaida,  he  ai^ually  worked  with  hia  own  hands,  strap- 
ping blocks,  and  per^irsning  other  eunilar  duties,  in  order  to 
pnpdw  some  small  vessels  for  service.  An  inroad  made  by 
tht  enemy,  about  thia  time,  a  littk  qwckened  the  efforts  of  the 
gOTenunaot,  however ;  for  on  the  Ist  of  August,  Captain  fcvw- 
aii,  of  the  British  navy,  at  the  head  of  a  force  consisting  of 
ths  tiro  oeptaied  sloopa,  three  goD-bort^  ana  awernl  batteaat 


mmnf 


368 


NAVAL    HIITORT. 


[181& 


made  an  incunioa  m  &r  as  Plattaburah,  wiwn  he  dntroyed 
•  ooonderable  amount  of  •toraa.  (to  alM>  oaptured  aaveral 
small  trading  vessels  before  he  reluni««d.  As  CanUin  M*Do« 
nough  had  no  force  equal  to  resisting  such  inroads,.exertioos 
were  made  to  equip  one  that  should  prevent  their  repetition ; 
for,  in  consequence  of  the  territorial  diviaioo  of  this  lake,  its 
warfkre,  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  was  prinoipally  d^ 
(ensive. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  efibfts  on  Ontark)  oootinuad.  Early 
ui  June,  the  British  squadron  went  up  the  lake,  most  probably 
to  carry  troops,  quitting  port  in  the  ni|^t;  but  Commodore 
Chaunoey  very  properly  decided  that  the  important  interests 
confided  to  his  discretion  reauired  that  he  should  not  follow  it, 
until  his  squadron  was  rsbforoed  by  the  accession  of  the 
Pike,  to  get  whfash  vessel  ready,  every  possible  exertion  was 
making! 

OnUie  14th  of  June,  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  Lieutenant  W. 
Chaunoey,  left  the  harbour  to  cruise  off  Presoue  Isle,  to  inter- 
cept the  stores  of  the  enemy  {  and  on  the  16th,  she  oaptured 
the  sohoooer  Lady  Murray,  loaded  with  proviaiooi,  shot,  and 
fixed  ammunition.  This  vesael  was  in  charge  of  an  emtgn 
and  16  men,  the  prisoners  amounting,  in  all,  to  twenty<oae. 
Mr.  Chaunoey  carried  his  priie  into  the  harbour  on  the  18th, 
passing  quite  near  the  enemy's  squadron.  The  prisooers 
reported  Uie  launch  of  a  new  brig  at  Kingston. 

About  this  time,  the  enemy's  squadroo,  consisting  of  the 
Wolfe.  Boyal  GcMfe,  Moira,  Mdville,  Berreafefd,  Sidn^ 
Smith,  and  one  or  two  gon-boals,  appeared  off  Oswego.  Pre* 
paratioiis  were  made  to  disembarit  a  party  of  troo^  bat  the 
weather  becoming  threatening.  Sir  James  Teo  was  induced  to 
defer  the  descent,  and  stood  to  the  westward.  Ha  then  went 
off  the  Geossee,  where  some  provisioos  were  seised  and  car> 
ried  away,  and  a  descent  was  made  at  Gieat  Sodas,  with  a 
similar  object,  but  which  feUad,  though  several  buildings  w«« 
burned,  and  some  fkmr  waa  captured.  Shortly  befoia,  he  had 
appeared  off  the  coast,  to  the  westward  of  Niaeua,  Mi|^ 
some  boats  bek»ging  to  the  army,  loaded  with  atata.  Two 
veM^  similariy  employed,  wtn  alao  oaptoied. 

Oa  the  S8d  or  June,  14  of  the  guns,  and  a  aoantity  of  the 
rigging  for  the  Pik^  reached  the  barboar;  and  the  next  day, 
Commodore  Oiainoey  adviaed  the  jnvemroent  to  oummaiina 
bi^lding  »  fest<aatling  schooner,  tltis  reoommendadoo  was 
folbwed,  and  the  keefof  a  veasel  that  was  aubaeqasBtly  odiad 


WMtoj  ,.  ,  »w 


m%^      * 


.  'aii*ffiia''nf>"i'  'ii'  "  • '  ' — ""^ 


m  tw  I-  ■-■li  liiiWBT'i  "'  "  "'    '  ""■°™-"*^'- 


ma] 


NAVAL    MtlTORTi 


tbe  iylph,  WM  9oon  after  !««d,  Mr  •l«*  Mag  (i«terminMl  hw 
Ihn  Mtlurs  of  the  materials  McnMwry  fl>r  h«r  equipment,  which 
were  prineiplly  on  the  apol. 

It  wee  the  leat  of  June  beforr  the  people  be«n  to  Rrrivti  Tnr 
the  nkei  the  (Inrt  dreft,  conaiating  or  only  M  men,  rmching 
the  harbour  on  the  Wth  of  that  month.  Theee  wera  followed, 
on  the  let  of  Ju^i  by  tt4  more,  (Vrm  Boeton.  I(  waa  thought, 
by  the  aaelatanne  of  the  army,  that  the  ehip  might  be  got  out, 
with  the  aid  of  Ihaae  men.  In  eetimating  ike  embarraaamenta 
of  the  lake  aervlea,  in  general,  thn  reluotanoe  of  the  lailofa 
to  aanre  on  thoee  inland  watera  ehould  not  be  overlooked. 
The  alationa  were  known  to  be  eickly,  the  aervice  waa  exceed* 
ingly  arduoua,  wvera)  winter  montha  ware  to  be  paaeed,  under 
a  rigoroua  olimale,  in  harboura  that  had  none  of  the  ordinary 
attraolkNW  oTa  eeaportiand  the  ohanoea  for  priae-money  wore 
too  inaigi^fleant  to  enter  into  the  aeoount.  At  thia  period  in 
the  hialory  of  the  navy,  the  men  were  entered  Ibr  partieuhtf 
ahipa,  and  not  (br  the  general  aerviee,  aa  at  preaent  i  and  it 
woold  have  bam  nearly  Impoaaible  to  proeura  able  aeamen  Ibr 
tl^  unpopular  dutv,  had  not  the  meana  been  found  to  induce 
parte  of  orewa  to  Mktw  their  oflloera  IKm  the  Atlantic  coaat, 
H8  volunlaera.  A  oonaiderable  party  had  been  aent  fVom  the 
Conatitutioo,  to  Lake  Ontario,  after  her  return  Ihun  the  coaat 
of  Bratil  I  and  the  arrival  of  a  portfam  of  the  crew  of  the  John 
Adama,  on  Lake  Rrie,  haa  already  been  mentioned.  On  the 
eth  of  July,  Captain  Crane  arrived  from  the  cime  ahip ;  and 
two  daya  later,  he  waa  Mkiwed  by  all  the  offlcen  and  men  of 
that  veaeel,  for  whwh  a  new  orew  had  been  enliatod.  Thii 
timely  reinforoeinent  waa  aarimed,  in  a  body,  to  the  Madiaon, 
that  riiip  being  Marly  of  the  riae  and  force  of  the  veaaei  from 
wfeieh  they  cam*. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  let  of  July,  however,  or  prevkiualy 
to  thia  important  aooeeaion  to  hie  force,  a  deaerter  oame  in  and 
rapoitad  that  Sir  Jamea  Teo  had  left  Kingston  the  prevfcwM 
night,  in  20  large  boata,  with  a  bodyof  SOO  or  1000  men,  widi 
wbidi  he  had  eroawd  and  landed  in  Chaumont  Bay,  about 
aefan  mifea  from  the  Harbour.  Here  he  had  encamped  in  the 
woods,  ooaoeallng  hb  boato  with  the  branchee  of  treea,  with  an 
mlaaliMi  to  oMke  an  attack  on  the  American  tquadron,  in  the 
floane  of  the  approadiing  nt^.  Preparationa  were  accord, 
i^^y  iMda  to  !«Qaiva  the  etpeeted  aaeault,  but  the  enemy  did 
not  appanr.  On  the  fellowtng  morning.  Commodore  Chaunoejr 
went  out  with  the  veaaels  that  were  ready,  and  examiDed  tlie 

•1 


370 


NATAL     NIITORff* 


(Ilia 


■bui«,  Uit  U»8  6S«iny  ecwW  ant  be  fisuod.  A«  iunii*  M  »» 
turcMHi,  and  mmirwl  lh«  yirm»p\a  in  rwi<luieM  fi>r  thn  altaok. 
8tlU  iw  flimmy  •p(wwfwl.  Thai  mnlit  •ml  Ihn  •u«;«!«)f»iliiig  «l«y, 
in  mora  «!•>■«»«  o«im  in.  dl  «..rMU.r«iin;(  wwh  .)«li.'r'«  ma- 
ooual,  by  which  it  wouW  wam  lh«l  t»»«  B«|iwlui.in  wm  nbao- 
doaad  on  the  nighl  of  IIm  lil,  In  ooiwwqiMmoa  of  the  «l«»w.lKio 
of  Um  imn  who  had  flwt  qohm  in.  Al  ihk  #»,  thii  I'llwi  h««l 
19  of  h«r  guni  mountml  j  wu)  Ihara  ia  liMln  doubl  that  ()om- 
moilora  Yao  wiwld  hava  baon  ttefiHiUHl,  htut  hr  por«i«tiHl  in  hi« 
ortfiaal  tnlantioa.  By  July  Ikl,  tha  remaiuduf  of  hor  arm«- 
mant  had  raached  tha  Harbour. 

On  tha  aut  of  July,  tha  Madiaoo.  CapUin  Cntm,  went  off 
Kingaton,  comrounioaling  with  lh«  c«iromodore  by  aijpwl,  who 
wnainad  at  anchor  b  tha  Pika,  wbkh  abp  waa  gatting  ready 
M  ftwl  aa  poaaibta.  Tha  aama  avaning  the  latter  went  out,  ao- 
eoropaniedby  the  aquadroa,  tuncingover  to  the  mtrth  •hore, 
•nd  then  ateared  to  tha  weatward.  The  wioda  wnro  light,  aad 
tha  raaenli  did  not  arrive  off  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara,  until 
tlta  «7th.  H«re  a  lunall  body  of  Iroopa  waa  erabarkwl  under 
Cokmal  SooU,  and  tha  aquadron  proceeded  to  the  head  of  the 
Idta,  with  •  view  to  make  a  deeoent  at  Burlington  Bay.  After 
bndinfl  tha  troope  and  marinea,  and  reconnoitring,  Colonel 
Boottbalioi^  the  enemy  to  bo  too  atrong,  and  too  well  noated, 
Ibr  the  fbrtja  under  hia  command ;  and  on  the  80th,  the  vea* 
■aia  weighad  aad  ran  down  to  York.  Hen  Colonel  Bcott 
btodad  without  oppoaition,  and  gpi  poaaeaaioo  of  the  place. 
Ji  oooaklenbie  quantity  of  proviaione,  particuUiriy  flour,  waa 
•alMd,  five  piaoea  of  oaoaoo  were  (bund,  aome  alwt  and  pow- 
der war*  bratigbt  off,  and  II  boata,  built  to  tranaport  iroopa, 
wore  dealroyed.  Some  barisoka,  aod  other  public  build- 
ioM,  wei«  burned.  The  troopa  r»-«mbarked  on  the  1st  of 
Auguat,  uid  CO  the  8d  th<7  were  diaembarkad  again,  in  the 

NiigMm. 

At  dnylight,  oa  the  moraiBg  of  the  7th,  whila  at  anchor  off 
tlii  mouth  of  tha  Niagara,  the  enrmy'a  aquadron,  oonaicting 
of  two  ahipa,  two  briga,  and  ^wo  larga  achoonera,  were  roea  to 
the  Borthwaal,  and  to  windward,  diatant  about  ai>  roiloi.  The 
Aowfkian  taaaab  inunadialaly  waigbed,  and  eMdeovoured  to 
obtain  tha  waatber^gage,  the  conatruction  of  a  large  portion  of 
tha  foroa  rao&iiiiig  thia  advaataga  impurtairt  La  a  general  actiott. 
At  thia  time,  Coftrnwdora  Chaaooey  had  wnaant,  tha  Pika, 
Madiaon,  Onakia,  Hamiltoe,  Seoarga.  Ont^,  Pair  Amerioan, 
Oamoor  TonpStina,  CooqiiMt,  Julia,  Orowlar,  Aap,  aad  Part, 


Mt  h«  ra- 
t»  atuck. 
'xtiiiKiUy, 

wiu  nlmo* 
)  iWw.lttio 
)  I'lktt  luwl 
that  <k)in> 
%Uh\  in  hia 
hnr  ■riMi- 

i^ml,  who 
ting  nmdy 
int  out,  ao- 
trth  ■hora, 
t  tight,  aad 

fira,  until 
mI  undar 
lead  o(  the 
Jay.  AAar 
g,  Colonal 
•rell  poatodf 
th, the  vea> 
loiiti  BcoU 

the  place. 

flour,  waa 
it  and  pow 
ort  troopa, 
iblic  build* 
tba  lit  of 
|ain,  in  the 

anchor  off 
,  oonaiftiag 
•ere  e«ea  to 
nitea.  The 
lavoured  to 
I  portion  of 
nral  action. 
,  the  Pike, 
'Amerioao, 
itaodPtet, 


mt] 


NAVAL   NIITOIIT* 


tri 


or  thlKaaa  tail  Ttm  aiMi  nf  th«  latif,  whuh  at  Arat  vt«w  might 
Mwim  to  rmKlnr  it  iiim«uli  l«i  a*«j«<>  •  < omUt,  waa  in  truth  in 
faviMir  of  such  a  doaign  i  the  dbtnn' . «  U mg  •»  aitMll,  that  th« 
rniiriiig  fHiriy,  undrr  unliuafy  iir«uiii«iiiiM«'ii,  w<»ul<l  havo  it  in 
hm  powiir  to  gain  a  harUiur,  l»('<ir»i  il«  eiiMimy  coulil  vU>m. 
lUith  roimiwiuCini,  it  la  now  umkimliKKl,  ivtiHl  uiuJtir  »«iry  rigid 
iiwtrucliuna,  it  bniug  known  that  th<i  lortuiw  ol'  tlm  iiorih<irii 
war,  in  a  grrat  meaaum,  dnprndml  on  the  oHnmand  oC  thie| 
lako,  and  iknithar  (^arty  waa  diapuaod  to  incur  any  unduo  rtakt 
ol'  loaing  itMl  rhanca  U>  obtain  lU 

()n  uw  pn<annt  tM-oaaion,  hownv^r,  ComiwMlom  (^auneey 
waa  aniioua  to  bring  th«  «iinimy  to  battUs  liwiling  a  ■utiiciant 
oonfUlemw  in  hia  ofTWra  and  nwin  to  bnlinv.)  tU«y  would  rtmjler 
hia  mixiHl  ami  grratly  dividml  fiirt^e  autlWiirntly  availabln.  The 
principal  advantage  of  the  imwny  waa  in  the  identity  of  charac- 
ter that  <ir|ung«^i  u>  hia  iiquadnin,  which  anabind  him  to  keep 
It  in  compact  order,  and  to  giv«  It  rx»nc«mtrat«Kl  and  aimultane- 
out  e»olutione,  while  the  movomenta  of  iht  l>mt  of  tlw  Amnri- 
owi  veaaela,  wore  nec«saa«rily  contndUid  by  thoan  of  their 
worat.  In  ahoit,  the  manamvring  of  the  American  aquadron, 
throughout  thia  entire  aumnwr,  lliriiiahaa  an  illuatration  of  that 
nautical  principle  U»  which  th«iro  hna  olwwhiw  been  an  allu- 
aion,  in  an  attempt  to  point  out  the  vaat  importance  of  pre- 
aerving  an  cquahty  in  the  propertica  of  ahipa.  Indeed  the  Pike 
and  Madiaon  alone  could  compete  with  veaacia  of  ordinary 
nualitiea,  the  Oneida  proving  to  bo  ao  dull,  that  the  Pike  WM 
frequently  oompolled  to  take  her  in  tow. 

At  0  A.  iM.  the  Pike,  having  got  abrraat  of  the  Wolfe,  the 
luading  voaael  of  theonemy,  l»«>i»ttMl  h«r  ♦fniign,  and  fir«)d  a  few 
guna  to  try  the  range  of  her  ahot.  Finding  that  the  latter  fell 
abort,  ahe  wore  and  hauled  to  the  wind  on  the  other  tack,  the 
•temmoat  of  the  amall  achoonera  being  then  aix  milea  diatant 
The  enemy  wore  in  aucoeaaion,  alao,  and  ^t  upon  the  aame 
taok  aa  the  American  aquadron,  but  aaoertaining  that  the  load- 
ing veaaela  of  the  latter  would  weather  upon  him,  ho  aoon 
tacked,  and  hauled  off  to  the  itorthward.  Aa  aoon  aa  the  i««r 
of  the  American  line  waa  Ikr  enough  ahead  to  fetch  hia  wake, 
aignal  waa  made  to  the  aquadron  to  tack  once  more,  and  to 
crowd  aail  in  chaae.  The  wind  now  gradually  fell,  and  about 
■unaet  it  waa  calm,  the  achoonera  uaing  th«r  aweepa  to  cloee. 
Aa  night  approached,  the  aignal  of  recall  waa  m«le,  in  order 
to  ooltoot  the  aquadron,  there  being  an  apprahenaion  that  aonw 
of  the  aoMUl  veaaela  might  be  cut  oC 


*f':  ^ 


I 


873 


NATAL     HIITOBT. 


(MIS 


In  the  night  the  wind  came  from  the  wettward,  and  it  Wew 
in  Muallii.  Ali  the  veawl*  were  at  quartem,  currying  muI  Jo 
gain  the  wind  of  the  enemy,  with  a  view  to  engage  him  in  the 
morning.  Not  long  after  midnight,  a  rushing  aound  was 
heard ;  and  several  of  the  vessels  felt  more  or  less  of  a  squall ; 
but  the  strength  of  the  gust  passed  astern.  Soon  after,  it  was 
Moertained  that  the  Hamilton,  Lieutenknt  Winter,  and  Scouroe, 
Mr.  Osgood,  had  disappeared.  The  Pike  new  spoke  the  Go- 
▼emor  Tompkins,  which  informed  the  commodore  that  the  mis- 
ting schooners  had  capsized  in  the  squall,  and  that  the  whole 
ofUieir  officers  and  men,  with  the  eioeption  of  wxteen  of  the 
latter,  had  been  drowned.  It  is  supposed,  as  all  the  crews 
were  at  quarters,  and  the  guns  were  loose,  that  when  the  gust 
•truck  the  vessels,  their  heavy  pieces,  which  worked  on  slides, 
with  all  the  shot  on  deck,  went  to  leeward,  and  helped  lo  carry 
the  two  schooners  over.  This  aoeident  showed  how  unsuited 
these  vessels  were  to  the  service  <*  which  thrjr  were  employed, 
those  loet  having  been  two  of  the  very  best  m  the  squadron, 
mounting  between  them  19  guns. 

The  American  squadron  now  hove.to,  and  soon  after  day- 
light the  enemy  set  studding-sails  and  stood  down  upon  it,  ap- 
parently with  an  intention  to  engage.  When  a  httle  more 
than  a  league  distant,  however,  he  brought  by  the  wind,  and 
the  signal  was  made  from  the  Pike  to  ware  and  to  bnng-to^ 
the  same  tack.  After  waiting  some  time  fi>r  the  English  ships 
to  come  down.  Commodore  Chaunoey  edged  away  for  the  land, 
hoping,  by  getting  the  breews  which,  at  that  seastm,  usually, 
came  off  the  southern  shore,  in  the  afternoon,  to  obtain  the 
weather-gage.  It  M  calm,  however,  and  the  schooners  were 
ordered  to  sweep  up  towards  the  enemy,  and  to  brin^  him  to 
action.  While  the  latter  were  attempting  to  execute  this  order, 
the  wind  came  out  light  at  the  eastward,  when  the  Pike  took 
the  Oneida  in  tow,  and  stood  down  towards  the  enemy.  The 
van  of  the  schooners  had  got  within  two  miles  of  the  English 
squadron^  when  the  breexe  suddenlv  shifted  to  the  westward, 
giving  the  latter  the  advantage  of  the  wind.  Sir  James  Yeo 
now  bore  up,  in  the  expectation  of  cutting  off  the  American 
small  vessels,  before  the  ships  could  cover  them;  but  the 
former,  by  freely  using  their  sweeps,  soon  got  into  thcnr  sta- 
tions  again,  when  the  enemy  hauled  by  tl«  wind  and  hove-to. 
It  now  became  squally,  and  the  people  having  been  at  quar. 
tei«  nearly  two  days  and  nights,  and  the  enemy,  who  was 
.evidently  indi^weed  to  engage,  unless  on  his  own  tomis,  pot- 


s^ 


.:y.^n^j.:...^.i:<..^.i,fe.i>^:.&iii 


(MIS 

,  and  it  blew 
rying  muI  to 
|e  him  in  the 
',  tound  was 
I  of  a  aquall ; 
I  after,  it  was 
and  Scourge, 
oke  the  Oo< 
I  that  the  ntis* 
tiat  the  whole 
HZteen  of  the 
Ul  the  crews 
rhen  the  gust 
ked  on  slides, 
Biped  to  carry 
how  unsuited 
ere  employed, 
:he  squadron, 

ma  after  day< 
n  upon  it,  ap- 
a  little  more 
the  wind,  and 
to  bring-to  xm 
English  ships 
y  for  the  land, 
mscm,  usually, 
to  obtain  the 
shomers  were 
>  brin^  him  to 
Mite  thu  order, 
the  Pike  took 
enemy.  The 
>f  the  English 
the  westinurd, 
iir  James  Yeo 
the  American 
lem;  but  the 
into  th«r  sta- 
i  and  hove-to. 
;  been  at  quar< 
emy,  who  was 
irntenas,  poa* 


1811] 


NAVAL    HISTORT. 


373 


aessing  a  great  advantage  in  such  weather,  as  the  late  accident 
8uffki"ntly  provnd,  Commodore  Uhauncey  ran  in,  and  anchored 
ot  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara.     It  blew  heavy  in  squalls 
throughout  the  night,  but  the  enemy  being  m  sight  to  the  north- 
ward, at  daylight,  the  squadron  weighed  and  stood  out  after 
him.    ThitJughout  the  whole  of  this  day,  and  of  the  succeedmg 
night,  under  a  succession  of  squalls,  light  airs,  and  calms,  and 
constant  changes  in  the  direction  of  the  winds,  the  American 
vessels  wero  endeavouring  to  close  with  the  enemy,  without 
success.    At  daylight,  however,  on  the  morning  of  the  10th, 
Commodore  Chauncey,  having  taken  the  precaution  to  get 
under  the  north  shore,  found  himself  to  windward,  wrth  the 
enemy  bearing  S.  W.    The  Pike  now  took  the  Asp,  and  the 
Madison  the  Fair  American  in  tow,  and  the  whole  squadron 
kept  away,  with  every  prospect  of  forcing  the  English  to  en- 
saoe.    About  noon,  and  before  the  squadrons  were  withm 
Sn-shot  of  each  other,  the  wind  shifted  to  W.  8.  W.,  givmg 
the  enemy  the  weather-gage.    Throughout  the  day,  there  was 
a  series  of  unsuccessful  mancBUvres  to  close  and  to  gam  the 
wind,  but,  about  6  P.  M.,  the  enemy  was  becalmed  under  the 
south  shore,  and  tlie  American  squadron  got  a  bretae  from 
N.  N.  W.,  nearing  him  fast.    At  6,  besnir  then  distant  about 
four  miles,  the  line  of  battle  waa  formed,  though  the  wmd  had 
become  very  light.    The  vessels  continued  to  ckise  untal  7, 
when  a  fresh  breeie  came  out  at  8.  W.,  placing;  the  enemy 
once  more  to  windward.    After  some  man«BUvnng,  the  two 
squadrons  were  standing  to  the  northward,  with  th«r  larboard 
tacks  abowd,  under  easy  canvass,  the  enemy  astern  and  to 
windward.    It  being  now  pretty  certain  that  with  vai^ls  ot 
qualities  so  unequal,  he  could  not  get  the  wind  of  the  Engbsh, 
while  the  latter  were  dinwaed  to  avoW  it.  Commodore  Chaun- 
cey adopted  an  order  of  battle  that  was  singularly  well  adapted 
to  draw  them  down,  and  which  was  admirable  for  <to  advan- 
taoes  and  ingenuity,    lite  American  squadron  formed  in  two 
Kims,  one  to  windward  of  the  other.    The  weather  Ime  con- 
sisted altogether  of  the  smaUeat  of  the  achoooeia,  having  m  it, 
in  the  wSsr  b  which  they  are  named,  from  the  van  to  the 
rear,  the  Julia,  Growler,  I'wt,  Asp,  Ontario„and  F^r  Atomi- 
oan.    The  line  to  leeward  oonteined,  in  the  same  order,  the 
Pike,  Oneida,  Madison,  Governor  Tompkins<  and  Conquest, 
It  was  hoped  that  Sir  James  Yeo  wouW  ekwa  with  the  weather 
line  in  the  coarse  of  the  night,  and,  with  a  view  to  bring  him 
down,  the  Julia,  Orowkir,  Pert,  and  Asp  were  directed,  after 


umtmumm 


■H 


ST4 


NAVAL   HISTOKT. 


(1819. 


wgaging  u  long  as  wm  prudent,  to  edge  away,  and  to  pats 
through  the  intervals  left  between  the  leading  veaaelv  of  the 
line  to  leeward,  forming  a^in  under  their  protection,  while 
the  Ontario  and  Fair  American  were  directed  to  run  into  the 
leeward  line,  and  form  astern  of  the  Conquest. 

At  half-past  10  P.  M.  the  enemy  tacked  and  stood  aAer  the 
American  squadron,  keeping  to  wmdward  of  the  weather  line. 
At  11,  the  Fair  American,  the  sternmost  of  the  schooners  in 
this  line,  began  to  fire ;  and  the  enemy  continuing  to  draw 
■head,  in  about  fifteen  minutes  the  action  became  general  be- 
tween  him  and  the  weather  line.  At  half-past  11  all  the 
schooners  engaged  bore  up,  according  to  orders,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  two  in  the  van,  which  tacked  in  the  hope  of 
Kining  the  wind  of  the  English  ships,  instead  of  waring,  or 
aring  up.  This^unfortunate  departure  flrom  the  order  of 
battle,  enUrely  chanoed  the  state  of  things ;  Sir  James  Yeo, 
instead  of  following  the  schooners  down,  as  had  been  expected, 
keeping  his  wind  with  a  view  to  cut  off  the  two  that  had  sepa- 
rated. Commodora  Chauncey  now  filled,  and  kept  away  two 
points,  in  the  hope  of  drawing  the  enemy  from  the  vessels  to 
windward,  but  the  English  exchanged  a  few  shots  with  the  Pike 
in  passing,  and  oontinwed  in  pursuit  of  the  two  schooners.  The 
American  squadron  immediately  tacked,  and  endeavoured  to 
close,  «dth  the  double  view  of  covering  their  consorts,  and  of 
engaging.  As  the  chase  was  to  windward,  it  was  impossible  to 
protect  the  vessels  that  had  separated,  the  English  ships  easily 
getting  them  under  their  guns,  when  the  former  struck,  of  course. 

The  vends  captured  were  the  Growler,  Lieutenant  Deacon ; 
and  the  Julia,  Mr.  Trant.  They  sustained  a  small  loss  before 
tliey  surrenderedt  having,  in  some  measure,  repaired  the  fault 
they  had  committed,  by  Uie  handsome  manner  in  which  they 
held  on  to  the  last.  It  was  the  opinion  of  Commodore  Chaun- 
cey, that  these  schooners  were  lost  throi^  excess  of  zeal  in 
their  omimuiders.  who  thought  that  a  general  action  was 
about  to  take  place,  and  that  by  gaining  the  wind,  they  might 
be  of  more  aervicet  than  if  stationed  to  leeward.  The  result 
showed  the  necesrity  of  compile  concert  in  naval  evolotions, 
and  the  virtue  of  implicit  obedience. 

Each  of  the  vessels  taken  by  the  enemy,  carried  two  guns, 
and  Im^  a  crew  <^  about  40  souls.  Some  damage  was  done 
to  the  sails  and  tigging  of  the  enemy,  by  the  fire  of  the 
■dwoners ;  but  the  American  squadron,  the  Julia  and  Growler 
excepted,  received  no  injury  worth  mentioning.    The  Growler 


PifttaNr-rmiit 


.,-.  ,Y:^:,i^-^if^d£k^U:^^,^^^^ 


[1819. 

nd  to  DM* 
wla  or  the 
tion,  while 
n  into  the 

d  after  the 
mther  line, 
tioonen  in 
ig  to  draw 
^neral  be* 
11  all  the 
ith  the  ex- 
He  hope  of 
waring,  or 
B  order  of 
fames  Yeo, 
a  expected, 
t  had  aepa- 
:  away  two 
B  Teasels  to 
ith  the  Pike 
oers.  The 
lavoured  to 
iris,  and  of 
npossible  to 
ihips  easily 
(,  of  course. - 
nt  Deacon; 
loss  before 
ed  the  fauh 
which  they 
lore  Chaun- 
I  of  seal  in 
acticm  was 
they  might 
The  result 
evolotions, 

i  two  guns, 
;e  was  done 
fire  of  the 
nd  Growler 
lieOrowler 


1819.1 


MATAL    HIiTORT. 


375 


had  a  man  killed,  lost  her  bowsprit,  and  was  a  good  ddal 

•^jr^i^e^Tftef  cl'r^jling  «ul  hard  for  some  time,  finding 
thaTshe  w2  iplrating  from  the  rest  of  the  squadron,  and  tta^ 
SI  waT^ohrpTof  living  the  two  ^^ooners  ^ged  he 
otherves^ls^nd  fojj«d  t^J-^^^^^  .tV^tUt 
m  LTvSs'b^^g^^^rgClarur  eKc^velyJtt^ 
SSri  to^d  two  of  thS  dullest  of  them  mto  the  Niagara 

'"'"^"iSj'continuing,  the  commodore  now  «Jf»™~<J  .^ /!«» 
for  the Se^.  with  the  rest  of  the  vessels;  but  the  wind  m- 
SLuiniTaSj  M«di-on  and  Oneida  not  having  a  day's  pro. 
S  on  boarf,  to  stood  for  the  Harbour,  where  be  did  not 
I^°ve  unUlSto  isth,  the  wind  failing  before  he  got  m. 


CHAPTER  XLin. 
WiTHOOT  waiting  for  his  new  vessel.  Commodore  Chaun- 

l^^ftoSlS^S  ni..  the  mM  «h«m«.  to  ft. 

Twir>.  M  those  islands  canse  m  sight.    Th«  '•"  American 

aS  Lady  of  the  Lake;  the  latter  ^"^^^^J^SS^^l 
l^end  engagement.    It  was  now  expected  that  the  enemy 


aMMMMi 


mmm 


376 


NATAI.    HI8T0ET. 


luia 


would  be  willioi  to  eng^,  and  tho  vessels  were  cleared  for 
•cnon.  Tho  wind  ag?ua  shilted,  liuwuver,  briogiog  the  Eng 
lish  stiuadroQ  to  windward;  but  by  carrying  sail  bardTtihe 
American  vessels  were  weathering  on  the  enemy  when  the 
latter  ran  behind  the  islands,  and  was  believed  to  have  stood 
into  bngston.  The  gale  increa«ns,  and  the  schooneis  being 
•ctwUly  in  danger  of  foundering,  Commodore  Chauncey  bore 
up  for  the  Harbour,  where  he  arrived  on  the  19th  of  the 
month. 

The  new  vessel  had  been  launched  on  the  18th,  and  she 
was  immediately  rigsed  and  named  the  Sylph.  Her  arma. 
ment  was  peculiar,  Tor,  in  that  comparative  wilderness,  the 
materials  that  could  be  had  were  frequently  taken,  in  the  place 
ot  those  that  were  desired.  Four  long  thirty-twos  were  mount- 
edon  cudes  between  her  masts,  and  six  sues  were  placed  in 
broadside.  As  this  vessel  was  expected  to  be  weatherly,  it 
was  hoped  these  heavy  guns  might  cut  away  some  of  the  ene. 
my  s  spars,  and  brmg  on  a  seneral  action.  It  is  due  to  the 
extiwidmary  capacity  of  tho  builder,  to  say  that  this  schooner 
was  out  into  the  water  in  twentyH>ne  working  days  after  her 
keel  had  been  Uud. 

A  promotion  had  been  made  previously,  and  the  new  com- 
nussipns  were  now  found  at  the  Harbour.  Lieutenant  Com. 
nJMdaftt  Woolsey  was  transferrad  to  the  Sylph,  with  his  new 
fMk  i  Lieutenant  Thomas  Brown,  the  officer  who  had  so  much 
dM^ngutthed  himself  at  the  landing  befoie  Fort  George,  sue 
oeeding  hui  in  the  Oneida.  »-.—«- 

•?lcM??^« -^""^  Commodore Chi^unoey  sailed  agun, 
with  the  Pike,  Madison.  Sylph,  Oneida.  Tompkins.  ConcM 
2^~^?^  a-^  Udy  <^ the  lST  The'eL^y^S^ 
seen  until  the  7th  of  September,  when  the  squadron  lying  at 
anchor  in,  and  off.  the  Niagara,  hia  ship,  w^  made  out  at 
dayhght.  dose  in  and  to  leeward.  The  signal  to  weigh  was 
instantly  shown.  «nd  the  Pike,  Madison,  and  Sylph,  ewh  tak. 
mg  a  achooneir  m  tow,  sail  was  made  in  chase.  The  enemy 
bore  up  to  the  northward,  and  for  «ix  davs  the  Anwrieaii 
squadron  followed  the  Enalisb,  endeavouring  to  bring  it  to 
actwo,  without  success.  On  the  11th  of  September,  the  ene. 
my  WM  becalmed  off  the  Geneaee,  when  the  American  vessels 
got  a  breeie  ai^  ran  within  gun-shot,  befora  the  English 
squadrca  took  the  wind.  A  running  fight,  that  lastedmow 
than  three  hoars,  was  the  result;  but  the  enemy  escaiied  in 
consequence  of  his  better  saUing,  it  being  out  of  the  pcwer  of 


I. 


iMwiiiiiiiiiiltii 


.'if-.'-f  b<t»'>j  ^j.'fViiifeL 


iiiiilMhi 


^-^ .  .--<  ■■:^tMjfit.sa>cXfw^Mi,.'. . 


[uia 


Idll] 


NATAL    HISTOBT. 


877 


tho  American  commander  to  close  with  more  than  two  of  his 
veoaoli,  the  Sylph  being  totally  unfitted  for  that  species  of  com- 
bat.  Aa  the  Pike  aucceeded  in  getting  several  broadsides  at 
tho  enemy,  he  did  not  escape  without  being  a  good  deal  cut 
up,  having,  according  to  his  own  report,  an  officer  and  ten 
men  killed  and  wounded.  The  Pike  was  hulled  a  few  times* 
and  other  trifling  injuries  were  received,  though  no  penon  was 
hurt.  Previously  to  this  affair.  Commodore  Chaunccy  had 
been  joined  by  the  Fair  American  and  Asp.  On  the  12lh,  Sir 
James  Yeo  ran  into  Amherst  Bay,  where  the  Americans  were 
unable  to  follow  him,  on  account  of  their  ignoranco  of  the 
shoals.  It  was  suppcwed  that  the  English  Commodore  declined 
engaging  on  this  occasion,  in  consequence  of  the  smoothness 
of  the  water,  it  being  his  policy  to  bring  his  enemy  to  action 
in  blowing  weather,  when  the  American  schooners  would  be 
nearly  useless. 

Commodore  Cbauncey  remained  off  the  Ducks  until  the 
17th,  when  the  English  squadrdi  succeeded  in  getting  into 
Kingston,  sfter  which  he  went  into  port  for  despatches  and 
sujtplies.  The  next  day,  however,  he  came  out  again,  and  on 
the  19th,  the  enemy  was  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ducks. 
No  notice  was  now  taken  of  him,  but  the  squadron  stood  up 
tlie  lakf^,  m  the  hope  that  the  English  would  follow,  and  also 
with  a  view  of  bringing  down  a  brigade  of  troops,  a  divisioa 
of  the  army  being  about  to  concentrate  at  Sackett's  Harbour, 
preparatory  to  descending  the  St.  Lawrence  with  a  view  to 
attack  Kii^ston  or  Montreal. 

In  a  day  or  two,  the  squadroo  got  off  the  Niagara,  and  an- 
chored. On  the  aeth  of  Beptenibsr,  information  was  received 
that  Sir  James  Yeo  was  at  York,  with  all  his  squadron.  The 
Lady  of  the  Lake  was  sent  across  to  asoertain  the  ikot,  on  the 
morning  of  the  37th,  and  returning  the  same  evening  with  • 
confirmation  of  the  report,  the  squadron  instantly  got  under 
way.  Owing  to  the  wind,  the  darkneaa  of  the  night,  and  tba 
bad  sailing  of  so  many  of  the  vessels,  the  squadrcia  was  not  got 
into  line,  until  8  A.  M.,  on  the  rooming  of  the  S8th,  when  the 
Pike,  Madison,  and  Sylph,  each  took  a  schooner  in  tow,  as 
usual,  and  sail  was  made  for  the  north  shore.  ^ 

The  English  sqoadron  was  soon  discovered  under  canvass, 
in  YorkBay,  and  the  American  vessels  immediately  edged 
away  for  it  Fortunately,  the  Americans  had  the  weather> 
gage,  the  wind  being  at  the  eastward,  blowing  a  good  breeie. 
As  soon  as  the  enemy  perceived  the  American  shi^  approachr 
83* 


wtmimm 


378 


If  ATAL 


%T. 


rinii. 


ing,  Iw  taoked  and  ■tretched  (Wt  ?  the  lake,  i"  order  to  got 
room  to  mancBuvre ;  Commodoro  Chauncey  forming  hia  line, 
and  stoc.-'ng  diroctly  for  his  cenlre.  When  the  American 
Muadron  wai!  about  a  league  diatai  ,  the  Knuliah  ahipa  mads 
•n  tail,  on  a  wind,  to  the  eouthwani.  The  former  now  wore 
in  succeaaion,  to  get  on  the  lame  tack  with  the  enemy ;  and  aa 
aoon  aa  thia  object  waa  eflro*.ted,  it  began  to  edge  away  ngoin 
in  order  to  cloae. 

The  enemy  had  now  no  alternative  between  putting  up  hia 
helm,  and  running  off  before  the  wind,  thua  tatlalkctorily  de> 
mouatrating  which  party  aought,  and  which  avoided  a  general 
action,  or  in  allowing  thie  Americana  to  commence  the  engage- 
ment. Notwithataoding  the  warineaa  with  which  Sir  Jamea 
Yeo  had  hitherto  mancauvred  to  prevent  a  deciaive  combat,  ha 
had  always  maintaioad  the  pretenaion  of  aeeking  a  conflict, 
probably  with  a  view  to  encourage  the  coloniea ;  and  a  retreat, 
at  thia  moment,  would  have  been  too  unequivocally  a  fliaht  to 
admit  of  palliation.  The  American  aquadron  waa  a  good  deal 
extended,  in  consequence  of  the  great  diffiirence  in  the  aailing 
of  ita  veasela,  the  Pike  being  oonaideraUy  ahexd  of  moat  of  her 
consorts.  As  the  signal  waa  flying  for  cIom  action,  the  do- 
vernor  Tompkina  had  passed  aeveral  of  the  laraer  vessels,  and 
was  next  aatem  of  the  commodore,  while  the  Madiaon,  which 
bad  one  of  the  heaviest  of  the  schooners  in  tow,  was  prevented 
from  getting  as  near  as  waa  desirable.  The  Oneida,  too,  now 
show(3  her  worst  qualitiea,  oo  exertiona  of  her  gallant  com* 
mander.  Lieutenant  Commandant  Brown,  being  able  to  urge 
her  into  the  conflict.  In  thia  state  of  things,  Sir  Jamea  Yeo, 
perceiving  that  his  two  stemmost  vessels  were  in  danger,  and 
that  there  was  some  little  chance  of  cutting  off  the  rear  of  the 
American  line,  determined  to  tack,  and  to  hasard  an  engage* 
ment. 

At  ten  mtnutaa  past  meridian,  accordingly,  the  English  ships 
began  to  tack  in  sucoesuon,  while  the  Pike  made  a  yaw  to  lee* 
ward,  edging  away  rapidly,  to  get  nearer  to  the  enemy'a  centre. 
As  soon  aa  the  two  or  three  hading  vessels  of' the  enemy, 
among  which  were  the  Wdfe  and  Royal  Oeorge,  got  round, 
they  opened  cm  the  Kke,  which  ship  received  their  fire  for  se- 
vend  minutes  wiUiout  returning  it.  When  near  enough,  she 
opened  in  her  turn.  The  Pike,  on  this  occasion,  waa  not  only 
beautifliily  handled,  but  her  fire  waa  probabW  tu  severe  aa  ever 
came  out  of  the  broadside  of  a  ship  of  her  force.  For  twenty 
minutes  she  lay  opposed  to  all  the  heaviMt  vessels  of  the  ene* 


I 


;frlfiilMii1ii 


[inn. 

order  to  get 
ing  hia  line, 
e  Ainorican 

•hip*  niada 
ir  now  wore 
Biny ;  and  as 

away  again 

utting  up  his 
iractorily  de- 
led a  general 
i  the  engage- 
h  Sir  JntnoB 
9  combat,  he 
g  a  conflict, 
lod  a  retreat, 
iy  a  flisht  to 
I  a  good  deal 
in  the  sailing 
r  most  of  her 
tioD,  the  Qo- 
'  vessels,  and 
dison,  which 
as  prevented 
ids,  too,  now 
gallant  coin- 
able  to  urge 
Jamea  Yeo, 
danger,  and 
e  rear  of  the 
I  on  engage- 

Soglish  ships 
a  yaw  to  lee- 
emy's  centre, 
r  the  wiemy, 
9,  got  round, 
ir  nre  for  se- 

enough,  she 
was  not  only 
evflreasevcr 

For  twenty 
is  of  the  ene- 


1811] 


MATAL     HIiTORT 


379 


my,  receiving  little  or  no  «.pport  from  any  of  her  own  ^uad- 
ron  wUh  the  exception  of  the  Asp,  the  «:hoonor  «he  had  in 
tow,  Ind  tto  Governor  Tompkin..  The  latter  vej«cl  com- 
^M  for  the  occasion  by  Lieutenant  W  C.  "  ^'n;\h,»  of 
U^  Madison  was  handled  with  a  gallantry  thai  reflected  high 
ctlU  on  ttat  y"  ing  officer,  steal.ly  keeping  the  station  into 
iwch  -he  had^beon  so  spiritedly  carried,  and  """"J""'"?  J 
lam  fire  until  crippled  by  the  enemy,  and  "««voidab  y  left 
astern  When  the  smoke  blew  away.  dunnR  a  pause  m  this 
^'combaT.  it  was  found  that  the  Wolfe  1^  lost  her  mam 
Md^mTz^n  topmast,  and  her  n^ain-y.rd  be..dej|^rece.v,ng 
other  iniuriei.  Cut  up  so  seriously,  she  put  away  dead  before 
JtoiiJ  crowding  al  the  canvass  she  could  carry  on  her  for- 
ward si™  A  tL  moment,  the  Royal  George  luffed  up  in 
^bte  s^Ciacro-  her  stern,  to  cover  the  English  commodore. 
wlK>  ran  off  to  leeward,  passing  through  his  own  line,  in  order 

^  When  the  English  squadron  bore  up,  the  American  vessels 
folK  nSintaSng  aXavy  fire  with  a.  many  of  their  cirote 
and  S*^^«- «uW  reach  It  was  now  found 

fhat  t^rSS;;«nt  of  the  Sylph  was  »2J'««»  ««  *-|S;^S 
gun.  between  her  masU  being  »  «™^.«?,  "  "1'°  "i^7«,t 
their  beina  u«>d  with  freedom,  or  rapidity,  more  MP«c>«"y 
whin  i^ase.    This  circum.t«.ce,  n«wit^-'r''»8j^^^^^ 
and  sailing,  rendered  her  of  little  more  use  than  one  of  the 

time  the  Muadron  had  run  nearly  up  to  the  \md  of  «•?»*«• 
Xre  the^former  had  a  post  at  BuHmoton  B^S  aod^mg 
that  the  Enalish  sh  ps  outsailed  most  of  his  ve«e Is,  UMnmo- 
tre  CLSX  m-*!lhe  signal  to  haul  offwUh-^w  to  stand 
in  for  the  Niagara.  As  the  enemy  was  eflbchislly  beaten,  ana 
?ere  iJ^«Sy«  doubt,  would  have  been  destroyed,  had  he 
bin  StSSTtfcU  order  has  been  much  criticised^  uncalU 
&":S*rtunate.  The  motive.  whichinj»ej«d  the  Aj^ 
ric^n  commander,  however,  were  nw'k«^  bv  **»  J^^^'^f 
na  thooahtfulnew,  which  are  among  the  highest  attributes  of 
«  offiSf.  «KlToh  distinguishedhL  whole  c«.™er, jhile  en- 
ttustedwith  the  arduous  and  responsible  «>nrice  over  which 

'•'Cilil'rii*:i2^.«d  it  shorUy^ler  came  on  U> 

•  Now  Csptai*'  W.  C.  B«*on. 


NAVAL    HltTORT. 


una. 


blow  an  easterly  gale,  and  an  actioa,  under  such  drcunwtauoM, 
would  probably  havo  cauMNl  both  aquadrona  to  be  thrown 
•ahore,  there  being  nothing  but  a  roadstead,  under  Bur' 
lington  beighU,  which  the  wind  that  then  blew  swept.  As  the 
toemy  was  known  to  have  a  considerable  land  force  at  this 
point,  all  who  were  driven  ashore,  would  neoessarity  have  iaiksn 
into  hia  hands  \  and  had  he  succeeded  in  getting  off  one  or  two 
of  the  smaller  vessels,  ho  would  effectually  have  obtaifled  the 
oommand  of  the  lake.  By  going  into  the  Niagara,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  American  squadron  was  in  a  poaitioo  to  inter* 
copt  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  who  waa  in  a  ml  dt  aavi  and 
after  waiting  for  more  moderate  wcatjier,  he  might  be  attacked 
oven  at  anchor,  should  it  be  deemed  expedient,  under  much 
nnore  favourable  circumstances.  In  addition  to  these  reasons, 
which  were  weighty,  and  worthy  of  a  commander  of  reflection 
and  judgment,  the  Pike  bad  received  a  shot  or  two  bwieath  her 
water  line,  which  required  that  her  pumps  should  be  kept  going, 
•  toil,  that  united  to  the  labour  of  an  action,  would  have  finally 
exhausted  the  strength  ot  the  ship's  company.  The  enemy 
had  batteries  to  oommand  the  anchorage,  too ;  and  no  doubt  be 
would  have  eatabliabed  more,  had  the  Americana  gone  in. 

In  the  action  of  the  38th  of  September,  the  Pike  auAred  a 
good  deal,  both  in  her  bull  and  aloft,  bearing  the  weight  of  the 
enemy's  fire  for  moat  of  the  time.  Her  main-top.g^ant-mast 
WM  shot  away  early  in  the  eogagemeot,  and  her  bowsprit, 
Ibramaat,  and  mainmast  were  allwounded.  Her  rig^ng  and 
aaila  were  much  cut  up,  and  abe  bad  been  repeatedly  hulled ; 
^o  or  three  timea  below  the  water  line,  aa  already  stated. 
Rve  of  her  man,  oolv,  were  killed  and  wounded  by  shoit. 
While  bearing  up  in  chase,  however,  the  starboar<l  bow  gun 
bursted,  bjr  wbiob  aootdent  twentv>two  men  were  either  slain, 
or  aerioualjr  injured.  The  topgallant  forecastle  was  torn  up  by 
this  exploaioa,  reoderira  iu  circle  gun  useless  durii^  the  i«. 
mainder  of  the  day.  Four  of  the  other  guna  also  cnekeA  in 
»e  jnosBlea,  producing  great  distrust  about  uaing  them.  The 
Madison  meived  aoroe  slight  ii^uriea,  and  the  Oneida  had  her 
main>topmast  badly  wounded.  But  no  peraon  waa  hurt  in 
either  of  these  Teaasb.  The  Oovemor  Tompkins  lost  her  fore< 
mast  On  the  part  of  the  enemy,  the  Wolfe  and  Royal  George 
suflbrad  moat ;  and  it  ia  beliered  that  the  former  veaael  aua^ 
tained  a  very  heavy  kiaa  in  mat.  It  is  also  undentood,  that 
one,  if  not  two,  of  the  enemy's  amallest  veaada  struck;  but  ^ 


mmm 


V 


(Ills. 


18111 


HATAL    HIiTORT. 


381 


Pike  dpclininjc  to  take  po(»e«ion,  in  the  mprtMt  lo  dam 
with  the  Wolfe.  Ihey  oTentually  ei^.pcd.  ^    .^,-j  .^ 

On  the  ad,  the  wind  coining  round  light  to  «»^  J**"'*'™;;^ 
the  l..t  tr.n;port  haying  U«3n  ^i  down ;»«  ••  J*  *  '^  tn«r 
th.  Huulron  weighed,  and  .tr.rtchcd  ou   to  look  for  the  eno 
my      At  10  A.ll.  he  wa.  seen  .tanding  down,  under  atud- 
ding  Mib.     The  inatant  the  Amcric-n  /«««'•  *«"/T*; 
however,  the  enemy  camo  b,  the  wind  and  carried  -  » »«  ""P 
off      During  the  it,mainder  of  thi.  day.  «»»  •'^S^li^ 
2;  ned  on  i&  American,  and  at  daylight  "«  «he  ad  Ujy  i«« 
5«,n  at  anchor.  clo«>  in  under  an  laland  between  Twdfe  «d 
Twenty  Mile  Creek..     It  blew  quite  hearily  m  g»»^  •trough, 
out  the  day,  both  aauadron.  «"" r"*.^  71     .?1.«S  ^^i- 
beir«  nearly  up  with  the  he«l  "f  »»»_^«  rl-'T^:     ^Ta 
nigS  proved  dark  and  «,ually.  with  .  ^J^  t^'^^^ 
evtry  precaution  waa  taken  to  prevent  tTje  enemy  from  idling 
paat,  aa  he  was  now  caught,  aa  it  might  be.  In  •  »«• 
•^'he  next  momina  theTweather  wm  thfck.and  r^^t^^ 
be  «»»  of  the  Engl&h  «,uadron.    It  Wling  calm  jt  no«^t^ 
Lady  of  the  Uko  wa.  ordered  to  the  w-i^rt '«jr«f2 
i:r«Lrtain  the  poaition  of  the  en«ny.  or  ;^!^J^^ 
Mchoied  again  In  Buriington  Bey.    A»  »  P- "J^^^^'^to 
ir'urned.and  reported  that  the  B°»'!?t. '^'^J'f'Z^iS 
be  aeen,  only  two  gun-boata  being  vwible.    A.  a  j!««;*^^ 
eiperie^ced  officer  had  been  .-nt  on  tW.  -•'^•,2^^^^ 
c£unoey  immediately  infent'  »hat  tto  enemy  had  gjl  pot 
him,  during  the  darkneaa  of  the  preceding  night,  ■nj  that  he 
had  ^Iwn  the  lake,  either  to  cut  off  the  Imenam  UJJ- 
•porSTortogetintoKingrton.    ?« '  ::i;;?'"^j!S.  Y« 
tofun  off theWk.,  with  a  view  lo  »<?«*£, ?'j''"^tS 
or  any  pri«es  he  might  have  taken.    It  «•  "^  !«r "  *^£j 
^oe»  of  the  Lady  of  the  ^^r^'^^AS^^t 
fleet  actually  lying  at  anchor  •»J^»«tf  *'  '^'«*^*u;^ 
their  hull,  'ana  n>ar.  were  confounded jnth  J^V^ 
.hoi« }  the  gentleman  tent  to  aacertam  the  fact  betog  too  eager 
JoVn  the%uppo.«l  e^sapeof  the  enemy,  to  go  near  enough 
in  to  make  certain  of  the  truth.  •_«  -„,«J«a. 

That  night  and  the  aucceedingday  the  ffnencan  «iujdw^^ 
made  a  gi^t  run,  the  wind  blowteg  •^l^'^J^il;  JL 
At  8  P.k,  on  the  6th,  .even  saU  were  wen  •J"'';/^^^ 
Fhto  Duck.,  and  no  doubt,  were  entertained  thai  they  'WW 
SiBriSTh  aiuadron.  All  «il  in»carr^^ 
the  chaw,  were  made  out  to  be  schooners  and  rfoop..    wgita" 


jiignmn 


NATAL    MMTOft  V. 


[lUS. 


wcra  DOW  shown  for  the  Sylph  aad  Ladv  of  ihe  Lake  «q  e«s» 
off  Uwir  tows,  and  to  ohaao  to  thr  N.  B.  Thia  iiiduoml  th« 
•traofcni  to  MfNtratu,  wheo  the  Pika  cast  off  tha  (juvomo? 
TompkiM,  and  paat  ahawl  alao.  Tha  •iraogara  now  Mt  Ur« 
tu  on«  oT  their  vewwla,  Iho  olh«r  aii  crowding  aail  to  aM!a|w. 
At  aunael,  when  opooaite  tho  Real  Duoka,  tho  Briiiah  vewola 
thfl  CXMifUiicw,  lUfnUlon,  and  Mary,  alruck  to  Iho  Pike  The 
Hylph  aoon  after  joined,  bringing  down  with  her  another  priae, 
iho  Drummood  cutter,  and  early  nwii  nioming  the  aame  aohooa- 
er  brought  out  of  the  Ducks  the  Udy  Gore.  The  Bnlerprkw, 
the  aevanlh  veaael,  eecaped. 

Tha  priaaa  were  gun<veaaela,  oarrying  flrom  one  to  thrw 
guna  each,  and  were  employed  aa  transporti  {  a  part  of  one  of 
the  Qerman  regimenU  in  the  British  aervioe  being  on  board  at 
the  time.  The  whole  number  of  pri»oa«ra  made  amounted  to 
804.  iooluding  officers.  Amof  f  the  Utter  were  a  lieutenaat 
•nd  two  master's  mates  of  the  British  Royal  Navy,  and  fbur 
masters  of  the  prorinoial  marine.  Tsn  oAoert  of  the  army 
were  aU»  taken.  The  CooAanne  and  Hamilton,  two  of  the 
priias,  mere  the  schooners  Qrowler  and  Jttlla,  taken  on  the 
night  of  the  8th  of  August,  which,  the  enemy  had  rightly 
Jiidged,  would  proTe  an  inoumbninee  rather  than  an  aooession 
to  their  squjidron,  and  had  declinmi  receiving  them  in  it.  Iltia 
ciroumsianoe,  of  itself,  aufflciehtiv  proves  the  eouivooal  advan« 
tage  enjoyed  by  the  poesesaion  or  these  cmft,  wltJioh  formed  so 
oonapicuou*  a  part  of  Comtmiotf)  Chauooey's  force  on  paper, 
the  «iemy  being  unwilling  to  injure  the  maaoMvring  of  his 
vessels  by  using  them. 

Early  in  November,  Commodflte  Chaunoey  wm  lying  »t  the 
outlet  of  the  St.  Lawrenoo,  below  the  east  «ad  of  Long  Island, 
when  Sir  James  Yeo  came  out  with  his  shipa,  and  anohor««i 
within  two  leagues  of  him,  the  squadrons  being  separated  by 
n  chain  of  smalt  isiaxjda.  There  was  but  one  pueage  by 
whtc^  this  chain  could  be  pMaod,  and  tb«  Amerioans  sent 
boau  to  found  it,  intending  to  ll|hten  and  go  through,  when 
the  enemy  lifted  bis  aoehors  and  returned  to  port  On  Iho 
11th,  the  army  having  oooe  down  the  riv^r,  tte  Amarkan 
•qnadron  went  into  the  Harbour. 

Two  days  later,  Commodore  Chaunoey,  who  had  now  an  al- 
most undisturbed  pnesesdoa  of  tha  lake,  went  to  the  Geoeaae, 
where,  on  the  16tb  oTllie  nMBlh,  ha  took  oo  board  1100  man, 
belonging  to  the  army  of  G«Mrd  Harriaoo.  A  atvera  gab 
came  on,  by  whioh  the  vaaaala  w«s«  aepwrntad,  toiM  babg 


I, 


Mil 


mmm 


(MIS. 


inft-ii.] 


NATAL    WIflTOlT. 


»*  i^      ^r-f  'hr  «na"  «-»».«.•>««  wow  now  c.)nv«rt«l, 
into  which  iiwiW  ui  •iv  »!"»•■  »  •>-    ■  ir  »/...•.•. 

th*  Sop-.  All  the  trmn.port.  h.d  orriv.J  .)« tto  ''»-  ,''"  J.^, 
Kii^kh  aid  mM  get  in  until  .  frw  d  ly-^  l.t.<r  lj«  Hwf 
AnSrirrh.d  gc«.  Mbo«  near  tb«  N  ««.«,  during  th«  gate, 
inrjotoCtna  ro-'hed  tl-.  lUrbcmr  .«  th«  ?h.h      By 

of  triSp^J^th.  iroopr.nd'.lon«  had  l«o«  .ucoa-.'Ully  ^r- 
wioMT, 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

In  th«  couna  of  the  wbt«r  of  I813-l«j  Ctot^  OH.  Prmr, 
th«n  •  young  mMt-r  aiid  eomma-Mter  at  the  Ud  of  he  flotito 
3^^;W*t  Newport.  Rhode  W.nd.  Aoding  no  .m..*«lij» 
nnSoect  of  geUing  lo^  in  •  tloop  of  w«r,  lolontwted  for  the 
CSW*?^*  Sfpf  in  ftrry  h«2ght  on  with  him  .  numtor 
of  offl^r..  .ml  .  few  u«n.  .nd  Con.|«rfore  Ch.unoey  gW^y 

^rit,  .nd  «Mtl,  to  «»d  him  on  the  upper  '^•J  »  "T'^ 
^  b«  .nived  in  the  cour*.  of  the  wintw.  From  thw  time, 
ttSl  ihe  ii*»ifi.tioii  opened.  C»puii.  P^rnr  w..  'cUy^^ 
Xy«d.  uiKter^'i  the  «nb.rrM.meiit.  of  h»  fttatier  po.itwo, 
tSnS^*^  «"•»'»•  •  ^^'  with  which  he  might  COB. 
S.Wh  tS  enemy  for  a  m.-ery  of  'JrJT^riTwt Tt 
Two  l»nn  biiM,  to  mount  SO  gun.  e«ch,  were  Utd  down  «t 
pSql^elTSd  «  few  gun.vJl«l..  or  echooaer..  wore  «1^ 

would  .rtw  ftom  below,  to  «id  in  equipping  the  Aifcmit  ire^ 
3.  A.  won  o  the  equedron  of  ConmJkM  Ci^oiicoy  ap. 
Z»i^  off  the  mouth  ofVll«g.r.,  Cptwi  P*«y.J?Jh  «>n«  of 
CTSoer^  went  to  Wn  it.  .nd  theTorwer  w..  efllricntly  em- 
pK^%»rii»l«fnf  the  dl««rt«l«UiPO  of  a*  U^ 


MAfAL     miTOlT. 


(imi 


his  fcssa  sirsady  retaltd.  The  fli!!  of  Port  (hotm  prndawtd 
UmI  of  Port  Krtfl,  whnn  th«  wKiibi  of  lh«i  NiaK«ni  mwlbr  f«iTM 
uaint  tha  niinlr<)  of  llw  American  anny. 

(Japlain  Por^y  now  m|MiinHl  lo  hia  own  onmiiMOil,  nnd  with 
inltolie  labour,  he  ■urcMNlnd  in  gHiing  lh*i  vomnla  that  ha<l  ao 
luof  bam  ttMaioed  in  tha  Niafara,  by  the  mieinv'a  hatloriw, 
«ut  of  the  rivvr.  Thia  impnrtant  mnttm  waa  «imrtMl  by  Iha 
IMk  of  Junr,  and  |»ti»|ianitHi«M  wara  imm«diai«tly  oommmaicmd 
Ibr  appearing  nn  iht*  laka.  Thmn  rmtmiu  c«>niii*tral  of  thn  ItHg 
QiMonla,  (a  pHM.)  and  ih«  arhotrnttra  Calhttrinn,  ()hM>,  anti 
Aimlb  (  with  the  akmp  OmtrMlor.  The  f^ht^riiw  waa  namtNl 
the  Bomera,  (he  Amnli*  the  Tlffreaa,  and  the  (Vrntrmclor  the 
ThpfW.  At  Ihia  tinw,  the  enemv  had  a  c.ruiaing  force  under 
the  ordera  of  (^ptain  Fiitnia,  which  cnnaiated  nf  the  (ju<w*ii 
Charlotte,  a  ahip  of  between  thrre  and  four  hundred  tons,  and 
mountiag  17  lunai  the  I<ady  Fravnai.a  fine  warlike  onhoooer, 
of  about  (wo  hundred  tone,  that  mounted  1 S  guna  ;  the  brig 
Himlar,  a  vaaael  a  little  amaller,  of  10  guna,  and  (hrae  or  four 
lighter  cruiaerB.  He  waa  alao  bdldiaf ,  at  Maiden,  a  ahip  of 
aaar  Ave  hundred  tona  nMaeurenMn(,  that  waa  (u  m<Min(  Itf 
gtiaa,  and  which  waa  eubaequeoUy  called  the  l>e(rnit. 

ft  waa  Aoar  the  middle  of  Juae  before  Captain  Perry  waa  ready 
to  Mil  Aram  the  outlet  of  I^ke  Brio,  for  Praeque  lale.  There 
beiac  mo  inlentioa  (o  eegaga  the  «irmy,  and  little  dmad  of 
HMwmg  Mm  in  ao  ahort  a  run,  aa  ahe  came  in  eight  of  her 
port  aaoh  veaaal  maAi  (ba  boat  of  her  way.  The  enemy  had 
eboaan  (Ma  moment  tu  look  into  Preaqua  lale,  and  both  aquad- 
Rtta  WMV  ia  view  flrom  tha  abora,  a(  (he  aame  time,  though, 
ftwtUMlaly  for  the  Amefkmaa,  the  Eogtiah  ^  not  get  a  eight 
«f  tbam,  untU  tbr«  wai*  lo«  near  the  land  to  be  interaaniad. 
Aitbaiaatvaaad  got  in,tbaaiMm]rhove  in  akbt,  in  the  omng. 

TV  t»o  brig)  mid  down  ia  Ibe  winter,  ummr  the  diraction'i 
of  OommodoraCbuuaomr,  had  baan  laimobed  towarda  the  olcao 
of  May,  nod  wwra  now  in  a  atala  of  focwardneaa.  They  wi  «• 
cnftaa  the  Lawrmoe  and  tba  Nhftm.  The  aehoonera  aiao 
waifa  ia  tha  water,  aad  OuMaia  IV»rr)r,  having  all  hia  veaaela  in 
ooa  port,  emfdoywd  bhaetif  in  ftttiag  tbnm  ready  for  ^^nrico, 
M  Am  aa  poaaibia.  Still  vavioua  alorea  were  wanting,  rhere 
waa  a  gieat  deWcienwr  of  men,  pattknitarly  of  aeamen,  and 
Oiptain  Perry,  aad  Mr.  0.  Turner,  were,  aa  yet,  the  cmly 
Qommiaaioaed  aea«Aoera  on  tba  lake.  Tho  latter,  moreovar, 
waa  qoila  yooii^  in  yeara,  aa  well  aa  in  rank. 

Praaque  lale,  or,  aa  the  place  ia  now  oalled,  Erie,  waa  a 


tllll. 

uniier  fMwm 

li,  and  with 
lh«t  twul  •() 

■  fafttbiriw, 
Rtad  by  Ihn 
MMnnwnced 

ot'thA  )tHg 
,  Ohio,  ami 

wssminMid 
ilractor  the 
fomn  under 

the  (juMtn 
(1  tnna,  and 
:o  achoooflr, 
I ;  the  brig 
ime  or  four 
I,  «  ahip  of 
I  mount  Itt 
til. 

Y  wu  raady 
lie.  Them 
I*  dread  of 
ight  oT  h«r 
enemy  had 
both  equad- 
iiM,  though, 

|M  alight 
intoreeutad. 

■  tkeomig. 
•  diractioivi 
^  the  Okie 
They  wim 
Moen  fti'io 
ia  Yeaaela  in 
for  wrrictf, 
ing.  fbera 
Munen,  and 
t,  the  only 
,  moraovor, 

Srie,  waa  a 


IMI.) 


MATAL    HliTOAf. 


gooil  and  ijiarloiia  har»>rwr  i  hwt  ii  had  n  l»ar  on  whi.'h  tlwrw 
waa  Iraa  Itmii  anv<*ti  f*i-i  »(  watt^,  'I'hit  bar,  whirh  bad  hilh- 
arto  asawarwl  iha  purpoaaa  of  a  fbiiilkaiKia,  now  offrrmi  a 
anrkHM  tiUlrwtWw  u>  i(rttina  »h«  brljpi  on  th«  lake.  It  lay 
about  hair  a  milo  iHiiai.lr,  nnii  olfritM  gn^t  advantagea  to  thia 
ntmrny  Smt  attaiihing  tlw  AitMJriran*  whilo  •'inpluywl  in  |>a«a. 
ing  It.  Ho  wnwilile  waa  Captain  P«rry  of  Ibia  .lla«d*ant««, 
that  ha  adopl4B«l  the  ut^noat  eocroay  in  iirdrr  to  wnrenl  hia 
intentions,  fnr  it  w^m  known  that  the  enemy  had  apioa  cloOTly 
watching  hia  movanwnla. 

Captain  Rnrrlay  had  UtXy  aHpt-wdwl Taptaln  PInnleIn  the 
0Oinman<l  <if  the  Kiiglmh  forw,  ami  for  n«)ar  a  wwk  hfl  bad  lie^n 
blockading  tho  Amem-an  vwibbU,  ovldtmtly  with  an  intwitlon 
to  piwrtinl  their  gntting  out,  it  Uiing  known  that  tbia  bar  could 
be  cruaa<id  only  in  amoolh  water.  On  PHday,  the  ad  of  Alt> 
gust,  he  auddmily  diaappwirBd  in  thfl  northern  board. 

Til*  rwit  *u»y  b:jt  (.ns  was  Hunday,  and  lh«!  oflkjwa  were 
ashoro  seeking  the  flustoinary  relimation.  Wiihout  any  ap- 
pearances of  unuaual  preparation,  Cajitain  P«rry  j^rivately 


K""  ve  the  order  to  repair 'on' board  the  reipective  vMscila  and  to 
oj>  down  to  the  bp  This  command  was  immediately 
obeyed  i  and  at  abottt  8  P.  M.,  the  Lawmnoe  Iwd  been  towed 
to  the  point  wh«  m  thfl  dnppmt  water  was  to  bo  fiwnd.  Iler 
guns  ««ra  whipped  oot,  loadt-d  end  shotted  as  thny  wvre,  and 
Uuided  on  the  beach ;  two  large  scows,  prvpnred  for  the  our- 
pose,  were  hauled  alongside,  and  the  work  of  lifting  the  brig 
prooeedsd  a*  fosi  aa  (masible.  Places  of  nmsslTe  timber  had 
been  run  through  the  forward  and  after  porU,  and  when  the 
soows  were  sanii  to  the  water's  edge,  the  ends  of  the  timbers 
wen  biooked  up,  supported  by  these  floating  foundations.  The 
plugs  were  wm  pot  lu  the  scows,  and  the  water  was  pumped 
out  of  them.  By  this  process,  the  brig  was  lifted  quite  two 
Aat,  though,  when  she  was  got  on  the  her,  it  waa  found  that 
she  still  drew  toe  much  water.  It  beoaine  nooesaary.  In  con- 
sequence, to  conoe-up  every  thing,  to  sink  the  scows  anew, 
and  to  block  up  the  timbers  afresh.    This  duty  occupied  the 

^The  sehooMrs  had  crossed  the  bar,  and  were  meoied  jot- 
side,  and  pieparmtions  were  hurriedly  made  to  receiYe  an 
attack.  About  8  A.  M.,  the  Miemy  re-appeared.  At  this  time, 
the  Lawi«nce  was  jual  passing  the  bar.  A  distant,  short,  and 
hannkHw  caneooade  ensued,  though  it  had  the  effect  to  keep 
the  eoetx"  ftom  running  in.     As  soon  as  the  Lawrence  was 

si 


MDiilnWi 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


[litis. 


in  deep  water,  her  guns  were  hoisted  in,  manned  as  fast  as 
mounted,  and  the  brig's  broadside  was  sprung  to  bear  on  the 
English  squadron.  Portunatelv,  the  Niagara  crossed  on  the 
first  trial ;  and  before  night,  all  tlie  vessels  were  as  ready  for 
service,  as  circumstances  would  then  allow.  The  enamv  re- 
mained with  his  topsails  to  the  mast  half  an  hour,  sullenly 
reconnoitring ;  he  then  filled,  and  went  up  the  lake  under  a 
press  of  canvass. 

This  occurred  on  the  4th  of  August,  and  on  the  6th,  Captain 
Perry  sailed  in  auest  of  the  enemy,  having  received  on  board 
a  number  of  soldiers  and  volunteers.  He  ran  off  Long  Point, 
and  sweeping  the  Canada  shore  for  some  distance,  returned  to 
Erie  on  the  8tb.  Taking  in  some  supplies,  he  was  about  to 
proceed  up  the  lake  again,  when  intelligence  -arrived  that  a 
party  sent  from  below,  under  Lieutenant  Elliott,  was  at  Cat- 
taraugus, on  its  wav  to  join  the  squadron.  A  vessel  was  im- 
mediately sent  for  this  acceftoble  reinforcement.  Shortly  ailer 
its  arrival,  the  commissions  that  had  been  made  out  some  time 
previously,  were  received  from  below.  By  these  chanfles,.Mr. 
Elliott  became  a  master  and  ccmimander,  and  Messrs.  Holdup, 
Packett,  Yamall,  Edwards,  and  Conklin,  were  raised  to  the 
rank  of  lieutenants.  Most  of  these  gentlemen,  however,  had 
bean  acting  for  some  months. 

The  American  squadron  now  cosuiatod  of  the  Lawrence  20, 
Captain  F^nry ;  Niagara  20,  Captain  Elliott ;  Caledonia  3,  Mr. 
M'Grath,  a  purser;  Ariel  4,  Lieutenant  Packett;  Trippe  1, 
LieutenaBt  Smith ;  Tigress  1,  Lieutenant  Conklin ;  Somen  2, 
Mr.  Alney ;  Scorpion  2,  Mr.  Champlin ;  Ohio  1,  Mr.  Ooblnns ;' 
and  Porcupine  1,  Mr.  Senatt.  On  the  18th  of  August,  this  force 
sailed  from  Erie,  and  off  Sandusky,  a  few  days  later,  it  chased, 
and  was  near  capturing  one  of  the  enemy's  schooners. 

The  squadron  cruisod  for  several  days,  near  the  entnnce 
of  Uie  streit,  when  Captain  Pbrry  was  taken  ill  with  the  fever 

E;u}iwr  to  these  waters,  and  shortly  after  the  vessels  went  into 
t-in  Bi^y,  a  harbour,  among  some  islands  that  lay  at  no 
great  <UaUu)oe. 

Here  a  few  chongea  occurred,  Mr.  Smith  going  to  the 
Njtfua,  and  Mr.  Holdup  to  the  Trippe;  Mr.  M'Grath  went 
also  to  the  Niagara,  and  Mr.  Turner  took  command  of  lb« 
Caledonia.    Tlw  Ohk>  was  sent  down  the  laM  <>■  doty. 

While  in  pwt,  <m  thb  ooconnn,  Captain  Pinrry  eootenplatod 
«a  ctMMi  %tlw  fBemf*  vowels,  tqrmMM  nf  booto)  and 


[1818. 

d  as  fut  as 
bear  on  tiie 
oosed  OD  the 
as  ready  for 
heenemv  re- 
lour,  sullenly 
lake  under  a 

I  6tb,  Captain 
ived  on  board 
r  Long  Point, 
B,  returned  to 
was  about  to 
rrived  that  a 
,  was  at  Cat- 
essel  was  im- 
Shortly  after 
9ut  some  time 
chanoeSfMr. 
sssrs.  Holdup, 
raised  to  the 
however,  had 

Lawrence  20, 
ledoniaS,  Mr. 
!tt;  Trippe  1, 
in;  Somen 2, 
Mr.  Dobbins ;' 
just,  this  force 
Iter,  it  chased, 
MMieis. 

'  the  entrance 
with  the  fever 
isels  went  into 
hat  lay  at  no 

grang  to  the 
N'GmUi  weot 
nmand  of  the 
M  doty, 
ir  cootenplated 
of  boato)  and 


wip 


181S.) 


1 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


387 


orders  were  issued,  accordingly,  to  drill  the  people  with  muf- 

The  squadron  was  still  lying  at  Put-in  Bay  on  the  morning 
of  the  10th  of  September,  when,  at  daylight,  the  enemy's  ships 
were  discovered  at  the  N.  W.  from  the  mast-head  of  the  Law- 
rence.    A  signal  was  immediately  made  for  all  the  vessels  to 
get  under  way.    The  wind  was  light  at  S.  W.,  and  there  was 
no  mode  of  obtaining  the  weather-gage  of  the  enemy,  a  very 
important  measure  with  the  peculiar  armament  of  the  largest    v 
of  the  American  vessels,  but  by  beating  round  some  small 
i^nds  that  lay  in  the  way.    It  being  thought  there  was  not 
sdKcicnt  time  for  this,  though  the  b>n{s  were  got  ahead  to  tow, 
■  siAal  was  about  to  be  made  for  the  vessels  to  ware,  and  to 
pass  to  leeward  of  the  islands,  with  an  intention  of  giving  the 
enemy  this  great  advantage,,    hen  the  wind  shifted  to  S.  E. 
By  this  change  the  American  aquadron  was  enabled  to  pass  m 
the  desired  direction,  and  to  gain  the  wind.    When  he  per- 
ceived the  American  vessels  clearing  the  land,  or  about  10 
A.  M.,  the  enemy  hove-to,  in  a  line,  with  his  ships  heads  to 
the  southward  and  westward.    At  this  time  the  two  squadroM 
were  about  three  leagues  asunder,  the  breeze  being  still  at  S. 
E.,  and  sufficient  to  work  with.    After  standing  down,  untU 
about  a  league  from  the  English,  where  a  better  view  was  got 
of  the  manner  in  which  the  enemy  had  formed  his  line,  the 
leading  vessels  of  his  own  squadron  being  within  hail.  Captain 
Perry  communicated  a  new  order  of  attack.    It  had  been  ex- 
pected that  the  Queen  Charlotte,  the  second  of  the  English 
vessels,  in  regard  to  force,  would  be  at  the  head  of  their  line, 
and  the  Niagara  had  been  destined  to  lead  in,  and  to  lie  «g«o«t 
her.  Captain  Petty  having  reserrt^  for  hinwelf  a  commander  s 
pnikti  of  engi^ng  the  principal  vessel  of  the  opposing 
squadron ;  but,  it  now  appeuing  that  the  anticipated  arrange- 
ment had  not  been  made,  the  plan  was  promptly  alterM. 
Captain  Barclay  had  formed  his  hoe  with  the  Chippeway,  Mr. 
Campbell,  armed  with  one  gun  on  a  pivot,  in  the  van;  the 
Detrwt,  his  own  vessel,  next;  and  the  Hunter,  Lieutenant 
BigMll;  Queen  Charlotte,  Captain  Finnis;  Lady  Prevort, 
Lieutenant  Commandant  Buchan ;  and  Little  Belt  utern,  m 
the  Older  named.    To  oppose  this  line,  the  Ariel,  of  four  long 
twdives,  was  stationed  in  the  van,  and  the  Scorpion,  of  one 
Imig  and  one  short  gun  on  ciroles,  next  her.    The  Lawrrao^ 
Cfeptain  Perry,  came  next ;  th«  two  schooners  just  maOmMi 
keeping  on  her  weither  bow,  having  no  quarters.    The  Gate* 


m- 


388 


NATAL     HlftTOBT. 


[i6ia 


doDia,  Itaeuteaant  Tturaet,  was  the  next  Mt*n»j  and  the 
Niagara,  Capttun  Elliot,  waa  placed  next  to  the  Caledonia. 
Them  veaaela  wen  all  up  at  the  time,  but  the  other  li^ ht  graft 
were  niofe  or  lesa  distant,  each  endeavouring  to  get  into  her 
berth.  The  order  of  battle  bt  the  remaining  veaaela,  directed 
the  Tigreaa  to  fall  in  aatem  of  the  Niagara,  the  Somen  next, 
and  then  the  Porcupine  and  Trippe,  in  the  order  named. 

By  thia  time  the  wind  had  got  to  be  very  light,  but  the  lead< 
ing  veawla  were  all  in  th^  stations,  and  the  remainder  were 
endeavouring  to  get  in  aa  fast  aa  poawble.  The  Eogliah  vea* 
aels  presented  a  very  gidlant  ^rray,  and  their  appearance  was 
beautiful  and  imposing.  Thiair  line  waa  compact,  with  the 
beada  of  the  veaaela  still  to  the  southward  and  weatward ;  their 
w^xgjnf  were  juat  opening  to  the  air ;  their  veaaela  were  SteMy 
painted,  and  their  canvass  waa  new  and  nerftct.  The  Ameri- 
can line  waa  more  atragg^ing.  The  order  of  battle  required 
them  to  form  within  half  a  caUe'a  length  of  each  other,  hut  the 
achoonera  aatem  could  not  doae  with  the  veasels  ahead,  which 
sailed  fiuter,  aiul  had  mora  light  canvaaa,  until  aome  consider- 
aUe  time  haid  elapaad. 

A  few  minutea  before  twelve,  the  Detroit  threw  a  twenty, 
four-pound  ahot  at  the  Lawrence,  then  on  her  weather  quarter, 
diatant  between  one  and  two  milea.    Captain  Perry  now  passed 
an  order  by  trumpet,  through  the  vessels  astern,  for  the  line  to 
doae  to  die  praacribed  order;  and  aooQ  after,  the  Scorpion  waa 
hailed,  and  directfid  to  begin  with  her  long  |pm.    At  thia  mo- 
ment, the  American  vessels  in  line  were  ed^ng  down  upon  the 
English,  thoae  in  fiont  beiag  naoessaiily  nearer  to  the  eiMmy 
than  thoae  more  aatern,  wSk  the  exet^ition  of  the  Arid  and 
SooriHon,  which  two  achoonera  had  been  Mdered  tp  keep  well 
to  wmdwaid  d*  the  Lawreooe.    As  the  Detroit  had  an  armap 
ment  of  long  guns,  Captain  Barclay  manifeated  hie  iudgmoit 
in  commencing  the  actioo  in  thia  manner  i  and  in  a  abort  time, 
the.  firing  between  that  ahip,  the  Lawrmoe,  and  the  two 
achoonen  at  the  head  of  the  American  line,  (p(  to  be  very 
animated,    The  Lawrence   now  showed  a  ngoal  for  the 
squadron  to  close,  each  veaael  in  her  station,  as  pilsvjoasly 
designated.    A  fow  mmMtaa  later  the  veaaela  aatem  benn  to 
fire,  and  the  action  became  geneml  but  dialant.    TIm  Law- 
rence, however,  uqpeaud  to  be  Um  principal  aim  of  the  enemy, 
andbafoe  ilie  firing  had  tailed  any  matuial  time,  the  Detroit, 
Hunter,  and  Queen  Charlotte,  were  directing  moat  of  thefar 
0i»ta  against  her.    The  American  brig  oodeavoured  to  doae. 


•••"■•IIB" 


'mm 


[181& 

I,  and  Un 
Caledonuu 
r  li^bt  oraft 
at  into  her 
lis,  directed 
loien  next, 
imed. 

ut  tlie  lead- 
tinder  were 
Sogliah  ves> 
•ranoe  WM 
ct,  with  the 
ward ;  their 
iirere  fireahljr 
Hie  Amen- 
d«  required 
ther,butthe 
Jiead,  which 
iieocHuider- 

w  a  twenty- 
ther  quarter, 
r  now  passed 
Mr  the  line  to 
Icorpionwae 
At  this  mo- 
»wn  upon  the 
Dthe  etmmy 
le  ArManid 
to  keep  well 
•dananna- 
lis  judgmoot 
ashorttinM, 
tnd  the  two 
It  to  he  very 
(oel  Tor  the 
IB  pusvioosly 
wn  began  to 
,    TheLaw> 
•ftheenem^, 
i,theDelroa, 
neat  of  thefar 
uredtodose, 


ins.] 


NATAL   BISTORT. 


389 


md  did  succeed  in  getting  within  reach  of  canister,  thoush 
not  without  suffering  materially,  as  she  fanned  down  upon  the 
enemy.    At  this  time,  the  support  of  the  two  schooners  ahead, 
which  were  well  commanded  and  fought,  was  of  the  greatMt 
moment  to  her  j  for  the  vessels  astern,  though  in  the  line,  could 
be  of  little  use  D  diverting  the  fire,  on  account  of  their  positions 
and  the  distance.    After  the  firing  had  lasted  some  time,  the 
Niagara  hailed  the  CTaledonia,  and  directed  the  latter  to  make 
room  for  the  former  to  pass  ahead.    Mr.  Turner  put  his  helm 
up  in  the  moat  dashing  manner,  and  continued  to  near  the 
enemy,  until  he  was  closer  to  his  line,  perhaps,  than  the  com- 
manding vessel ;  keeping  up  as  warm  a  fire  as  his  small  arma- 
ment would  allow.    The  Niagara  now  became  the  vessel  next 
astern  of  the  Lawrence.                         - .     .    .     .v      •  j 
The  oannoBMle  had  the  usual  effect  of  deademn^  the  wind, 
and  for  two  hours  there  was  very  Httle  air.    During  all  this 
time,  ttw  weight  of  the  enemy's  fire  was  directed  agauirt  the 
Lawrence ;  the  Queen  Chariotte  having  fiJled,  passed  the  Hun- 
ter, and  closed  with  the  Detroit,  where  she  kept  up  a  destruc- 
tive cannonading  on  thLs  devoted  veseel.    These  united  attacks 
dismantled  the  Aroericau  brig,  besides  producing  great  slaugh- 
ter on  board  her.    At  the  end  of  two  hours  and  a  half,  agree- 
ably to  the  report  of  CaplAin  Ptarry,  the  enemy  having  filled, 
and  the  wind  inereaBing,  the  two  squadrons  drew  slowly  aheirf, 
the  Uwrenoe  neeessanly  fhtting  aatom  and  partially  out  of  the 
combat.    At  this  moment  the  Niagara  passed  to  the  southward 
and  westward,  a  short  dittanoe  to  windward  of  the  La^re»3«> 
steering  for  the  head  of  the  enemy's  line,  and  the  Caledonia 
followed  to  teewaid.  ^    ,.      ,  

The  vesaela  a|tom  had  not  been  idle,  but,  hv  dint  of  sweep- 
ing  and  saiKbgTllMT  had  aU  got  within  reach  of  their  guns, 
and  had  besn  gi^lually  eioaing,  Ihoagh  not  fai  the  prescribed 
order.  The  rear  «f  the  Hne  would  eee»n  to  have  inclmed  down 
towaida  the  «ieray,  bringing  the  Trippe,  Lieutenant  Holdup, 
so  near  the  Ckledoda,  tliat  the  latter  sent  a  boat  to  her  for  a 
supply  of  eartrid^. 

Caatein  Perry,  finding  lumself  m  a  vessel  that  had  been 
randerad  nearly  usrieas  by  the  injories  sh«.had  received,  and 
which  waa  dropping  out  of  the  combat,  got  into  his  boat,  and 
polled  gfter  the  Niagara,  on  board  of  which  vessel  he  arrived 
at  about  half-past  9.  Soon  after,  the  odoan  ot  the  Lawrenee 
w««  hwded  down,  that  vessel  bring  litemlty  a  wredt. 

After  a  diort  oonMiltation  between  Captains  Perry  atad 
88* 


iiiHl 


*<M*« 


NAVAL     HliTOEY. 


[ISlt. 


Elliott,  the  latter  volunteered  to  take  the  boat  of  the  former, 
and  to  proceed  and  bring  the  amaU  veweU  aatem,  which  were 
already  bridtly  engaged,  into  atill  closer  action.  Thia  projx>- 
■al  being  accepted,  Captain  Elliott  pulled  down  the  line,  paMing 
within  hail  of  all  the  amall  veawla  astern,  directing  them  to 
doae  within  half  pistol-shot  of  the  enemy,  and  to  throw  in 
grape  and  canister,  as  soon  as  they  could  get  the  desired  poei- 
Sons.  He  then  repaired  on  boord  the  Somers,  and  took  charge 
of  that  schooner  in  person. 

When  the  enemy  saw  the  colours  of  the  Lawrence  come 
down,  he  confidemly  believed  that  he  had  gained  the  day. 
His  men  appeared  over  the  bulwarks  of  the  diflferent  vessels 
and  gave  three  cheers.  For  a  few  minutea,  indeed,  there  ap- 
pears to  have  been,  as  if  by  common  consent,  nearly  a  general 
cessation  in  the  firing,  during  which  boih  parties  o  pre- 
paring for  a  desperate  and  final  effort.  The  wind  fresh- 
ened, and  the  position  of  the  Niagara,  which  brig  was  now 
abeam  of  the  leading  English  vessel, was  commanding;  while 
the  gun-vessels  astern,  in  consequence  of  the  increasing  bree«e, 
were  enabled  to  close  very  fast.  .        .    u 

At  46  minutes  iiast  8,  or  when  time  bad  been  given  to  the 
gun-vessels  to  receive  the  order  mentioned,  Cajptain  Perry 
showed  the  signal  from  the  Niagara,  for  cloae  action,  and  im- 
mediately  boi«  up,  under  his  foresail,  topsails,  and  topg^lant- 
sail.    As  the  Ame."can  vessels  hoisted  their  answering  flags, 
this  order  was  received  with  three  cheers,  and  it  waa  obeyed 
with  alacrity  and  spirit.    The  enemy  bad  attempted  to  ware 
round,  to  get  fresh  broadsides  to  bear,  in  doing  which  hr  line 
sot  into  confusion,  and  the  two  ships  for  a  short  time,  were 
^1  of  each  other,  while  the  Lady  Prevost  had  so  far  shifted 
her  berth,  aa  to  be  both  to  the  westward  end  to  the  leeward  of 
the  Detroit.    At  this  critical  moment,  the  Niagara  <aine 
steadily  down,  within  half  pUtol-shol  of  the  enemy,  standing 
betweea  the  Chippeway  and  Lady  Prevort,  on  one  side,  and 
the  De^it,  Queen  Charlotte,  and  Hunter,  on  the  other.    In 
passing,  she  iioured  in  her  broadsides,  starboard  and  larboard, 
ranged  ahead  of  the  ships,  luffed  athwart  their  bows,  aad  fion- 
tinved  delivering  a  close  and  deadly  fire.    The  shneks  from 
the  Detroit,  proclaimed  th'^*  the  tide  of  battle  bad  tumei.    At 
the  same  moment,  the  gun-vessels  w»d  Caledonia  were  throw- 
ins  in  doM  discharges  of  grape  and  canister  astern.    A  con. 
flict  so  fearfully  cloae,  aad  so  deadly,  vras  necessarily  short. 
In  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  after  the  Niagara  bore  up,  a  baU 


iiiiiiii 


•mm 


181 S.] 


NATAL     HI8T0RT. 


391 


wai  poMed  among  the  small  vesaela,  to  say  ihat  tho  enemy 
had  struck,  and  an  officer  of  the  Queen  Charlotte  appeared  on 
the  taflrail  of  that  ship,  waving  a  white  handkerchief,  bent  to 
a  boarding-pike. 

As  soon  as  the  smoke  cleared  away,  the  two  squadrons  were 
found  partly  intermingled.  The  Niagara  lay  to  leeward  of 
the  Detroit,  Queen  Charlotte,  and  Hunter ;  and  the  Caledonia, 
with  one  or  two  of  the  gun-vessels,  was  between  the  latter  and 
the  Lady  Provost.  On  board  the  Niagara,  the  signal  for  close 
action  was  still  abroad,  while  the  small  vessels  were  sternly 
wearing  their  answering  flags.  The  Little  Belt  and  Chippe- 
way  were  endeavouring  to  escape  to  leeward,  but  they  were 
shortly  after  brought-to  by  the  Scorpion  and  Trippe ;  while 
the  Lawrence  was  lying  astern  and  to  windward,  with  the 
American  colours  again  flying.  The  battle  had  commenced 
about  noon,  and  it  terminated  at  3,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
shots  fired  at  the  two  vessels  that  atten:pted  to  escape,  which 
were  not  overtaken  until  an  hour  later. 

In  this  decisive  action,  so  far  as  their  people  were  concern- 
ed, the  two  squadrons  sufiered  in  nearly  an  e<]ual  degree,  the 
manner  in  which  the  Lawrence  was  cut  up,  bemg  almost  with- 
out an  example  in  naval  warfare.  It  is  understood  that  when 
Captain  Peri^  lefl  her,  she  had  but  one  gun  on  her  starboard 
side,  or  that  on  which  she  was  eagaged,  which  could  be  used, 
and  that  gallant  officer  is  said  to  lutVe  aided  in  firing  it  in  per- 
son the  last  time  it  was  discharged.  Of  her  crew,  22  were 
killed,  and  61  were  wounded,  most  of  the  latter  severely. 
When  Captain  Perry  led  her,  taking  with  him  his  own  brother 
and  six  of  his  people,  there  remain^  on  board  but  14  sound 
men.  The  Niagara  had  2  killed,  and  26  wounded,  or  about 
one-fourth  <^  all  at  quarters.  Thib  was  the  official  report; 
but,  according  to  the  statement  of  her  surgeon,  her  loss  was 
6  killed,  and  27  wounded.  The  other  vessels  sufllbred  rela- 
tively less.  The  Caledonia,  Lieutenant  Turner,  though  car- 
ried into  the  hottest  of  the  action,  and  entirely  without  Quar- 
ters, had  8  men  wounded ;  the  Trippe,  Lieutenant  Holdup, 
which,  for  some  time,  was  quite  as  ckiwly  engaged,  and  was 

auailv  without  quarten,  hod  2  men  wounded ;  the  Somen, 
r.  Almy,  the  same ;  the  Ariel,  Lieutenant  Pfekett,  had  1 
man  killed,  and  3  wounded ;  the  Scorpwn,  Mr.  Champiin,  had 
2  killed,  one  of  whom  was  a  midshipman ;  the  Tigress,  Lieu* 
tenant  Cooklin,  and  Porcupine,  Mr.  Senatt,  bad  no  one  hurt. 
The  total  loss  of  the  squadron  was  27  killwi,  and  06  wound. 


m^m 


393 


NAVAL    HIITOBT. 


(MS. 


ad,  or  aJtomther  138  man ;  of  whom  13  wen  ouu1ar<deek 
offioen.  Mora  thao  «  bundrad  nwo  were  unfit  for  duty,  emons 
Ihedifierent  voMuU,  previously  to  the  action,  cholera  morbus  and 
dysontery  prevailing  in  the  squadron.  Captain  Perry  hiniaeif 
WAS  labouring  under  dd>ility,  from  a  rvoent  attack  of  the  lake 
fever,  and  could  hardly  be  said  to  be  in  a  proper  condition  for 
•ervioe,  when  ba  met  the  enemy  {  a  cirrumttanoe  that  greatly 
anhanoee  the  estimate  of  his  personal  exertions  on  this  memo- 
rable occasion.  Among  the  Americans  slain,  yfen  Lieutenant 
Brooks,  the  oommandiog  marine  oflicer,  and  Messrs.  Laub  and 
Clark,  midshipmen ;  and  among  the  wounded,  Messrs.  Yamall 
and  Forrest,  the  first  and  second  lieutenants  of  the  Lawrenee, 
Mr.  Taylor,  her  master,  Mr.  Hanibleton,  her  purser,  and 
Messrs.  Swartwout  and  Claxton,  two  of  her  midshipmen.  Mr. 
Edwards,  stoond  lieuteoant  of  the  Niagam,  and  Mr.  Cum- 
minn,  one  of  her  midshipmen,  were  also  wounded. 

¥m  two  hours  the  weight  of  the  enemy's  fire  had  been 
thrown  into  the  Lawronoeii  and  the  water  being  perfectly 
smooth,  his  long  guns  had  committed  great  havoCf  before  the 
carronades  of  the  American  vessels  could  be  made  available. 
For  much  of  this  period,  it  is  believed  that  the  ^orts  of  the 
enemy  were  little  diverted,  except  b^  the  fira  of  the  two  lead- 
ing vchooneie,  a  gun  of  one  of  which  (the  Ariel)  had  early 
btuitad,  the  two  \qo^  guns  of  the  lai^  brigs,  and  the  two  loiw 
^|uns  of  the  Caledoma.  Although  the  eoeany  undoabledly  tnu 
iered  by  this  fire,  it  was  not  diraiotod  at  a  single  object,  as  VM 
the  case  with  that  of  the  English,  who  appeared  to  think  that 
by  destroying  the  American  oommanding  vessel  thev  would 
Qooquer.  It  is  true  that  carronaidas  were  need  on  both  sidee, 
at  an  earlier  stue  of  the  action  than  that  mentioned,  but  thera 
is  good  reason  for  thinking  that  they  did  but  little  execution 
for  the  first  hour.  When  they  did  tell,  the  Lawrence,  the  ves> 
ael  nenrfMl  to  the  enemy,  if  the  Caktdonia  be  excepted,  necee- 
sarity  became  their  object,  and,  by  thia  time,  the  efficiency  c^ 
faer,owli  faattsr]^  was  much  leesened.  As  a  consequence  of 
these  pectiliAroircumstanoes,  her  starboad  bulwarks  were  near* 
ly  beaten  in ;  and  even  bw  larboard  were  greatly  injured, 
many  of  the  enemy's  heavy  shot  pasdng  throi^{fa  both  sides ; 
while  vwty  gun  was  finally  disabled  in  the  batteries  fought. 
Although  miwh  has  been  justly  said<  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  Bon  Homme  Richard  and  the  Essex  were  injured,  neither 
of  those  ships  suflbred,  relatively,  in  a  degree  |m^Mwtk>ned<li> 
the  Lawrence.    Distinguished  as  were  the  two  former  vessd% 


■««■ 


(IMS. 


1811.] 


MATAL    HISTOBf 


393 


for  IhB  indomitoUe  ratolutioii  with  which  Awy  withttood  the 
detlnictivo  fire  directed  agwiMt  them,  it  did  not  surpaaa  that 
imnirMted  on  board  tha  latter;  and  it  ouafat  to  bo  mentioned, 
that  throughout  the  whole  of  this  trying  day,  her  people,  who 
had  been  to  ihort  a  time  acting  together,  manifealed  a  ateadi- 
ocsa  and  a  discipline  worthy  or  veterana. 

Although  the  Niagara  auftred  in  a  much  leas  degree^ 
men  killed  and  wounded,  in  a  ahip'a  company  that  muatered 
little  mor?  than  100  souls  at  quarters,  under  ordinary  circuro- 
•tanoea,  would  be  thought  a  large  ptoportion.  Neither  the 
Niagara  nor  any  of  the  smaller  vessels  were  injured  in  an 
unusual  manner  in  their  hulls,  spars,  and  sails,  the  enemy  hat- 
ins  expended  so  much  of  his  efforts  agaimc  the  Lawrence,  and 
bung  so  soon  silenced  when  that  bria  and  the  gun-reaaels  got 
their  raking  positiaM,  at  the  cioae  of  the  conflict. 

The  injuries  sustained  by  the  English  were  more  divided, 
but  wetw  aeoeasarily  great  According  to  the  official  report 
of  Captain  Barclay,  hw  vessels  ket  41  kilted,  and  »4  wound- 
ed,  making  a  total  of  I3fi,  includiiig  twelve  officers,  the  pre- 
cise number  lost  by  the  Americana.  No  report  has  been  pub. 
liabed,  in  which  the  lose  of  tha  respective  vessels  was  given ; 
but  the  Detroit  had  her  first  lieutenant  killed,  and  •»'  o«>!»- 
mander,  Captaia  Barclay,  with  her  parser,  wounded.  Oaptau 
Finnis,  of  tin  Queen  Charlotte,  was  also  aiain,  and  bw  first 
lieutenant  was  wounded.  The  coaumunding  officer  aiid  ftrat 
lieutenant  of  the  Lady  Prevoat  were  among  the  wounded,  aa 
wens  the  oommandhig  officers  of  the  Huuler  and  CWppeway. 
All  the  veaseb  w«i«  a  good  deal  injowd  in  their  sails  andhollei 
the  Quera  Chariotte  stAring  moat  in  propoitwo.  Botfc  tfat 
Detroit  and  Quean  Charlotte  rolled  the  naals  out  of  them,  at 
anchor  at  Pui4n  Bay,  in  a  gale  of  wind,  two  days  aflar  the 

It  k  not  easy  to  oMka  a  just  oorapariaon  belweM  Ae  finmea 
ofthehoatilaaquMroManthisooeasion.  In  eertain  aitualMM 
the  Americana  would  hav«  been  materially  superior,  while  in 
others  the  enemy  night  possess  the  advantage  in  perbapa  an 
equal  degraa.  In  the  otreumatancea  under  which  the  action 
waa  actually  fought,  the  peculiar  advantaaes  and  disadvantaj^ 
wei«  noariy  e^ualiiod,  the  Kghtneas  of  the  vrind  peventmg 
either  of  tha  two  largest  of  the  American  veaaels  from  profit- 
iug  by  ita  peculiar  mode  of  efficiency,  until  quite  near  tha 
close  of  the  engagement,  and  partieulariy  fovouring  the  arma- 
orat  of  the  Detroit;  while  the  smoothness  of  the  water  ren. 


304 


NATAL     HlirrORT. 


Pllll 


doted  the  light  vesseis  of  the  Americana  very  destructive  u 
■oon  ■•  they  could  be  got  wiihiu  a  proper  range.  The  De- 
*r<r>:t  hu  been  roproaeotod  on  good  authority,  to  have  been  both 
a  heavier  and  atronger  ahip,  than  cither  of  the  American  bnga, 
ana  the  Quoen  Charlotte  proved  to  be  a  much  finer  v<*«ael  than 
had  been  expected ;  while  the  Lady  Prcvoat  waa  found  to  be 
a  large,  warlike  schooner.  It  was,  perhaiM,  unfortunate  tor 
the  eoemy.  that  the  armament!  of  the  two  taat  wore  not  avail- 
able under  the  circunutances  which  rendered  the  Detroit  so 
efficient,  aa  it  deatroyed  the  unity  of  his  eflbrta.  In  short,  the 
battle,  for  near  half  ita  duration,  appears  to  have  been  fought, 
ao  far  vs  efficiency  waa  concerned,  by  the  long  guns  of  tne 
two  aquadrona.  ThiM  waa  particularly  ikvourable  to  the  De- 
troit and  to  the  American  gun-veaaels  t  while  the  latter  fought 
under  the  advantagea  of  amocth  water,  and  the  disadvantages 
of  having  no  quarters.  The  sides  of  the  Detroit,  which  wore 
unusually  stout,  wore  filled  with  shot  that  did  not  penetrate. 
In  the  number  of  men  at  quarters,  there  could  have  been  no 

Ct  di&parity  in  the  two  squadrons.  Mr.  Yamall,  tho  first 
Doant  of  the  Lawrence,  testified  before  a  court  of  inquiry, 
in  1815,  that  the  brig  to  which  he  belonged  had  but  •*  ISl  men 
and  bojrs,  of  every  wacription"  on  board  her,  and  that  of  these 
but  108  wore  fit  for  duty  in  the  action.  The  Niagara  was 
nearly  in  the  same  state.  A  part  of  the  crews  of  oil  the  ves- 
aela  belonsed  to  tho  militia.  Indeed,  without  a  large  propor- 
tion of  volunteors  from  the  army,  the  battle  coulo  not  have 
been  fought.  The  British  were  no  better  off,  having  a  coni 
aiderable  proportion  of  aoidiers  on  board  their  vessels,  though 
men  of  that  deacription  were  probably  as  efficient  in  smooth 
water,  and  under  the  actual  eircumstanoes,  aa  ordinary  sailors. 
Oiptain  Perry,  in  hit  report  of  the  action,  eulogised  the  con- 
duct of  his  second  in  command.  Captain  Elliott ;  that  of  Mr. 
Turner,  who  comnnanded  the  Caledonia ;  and  that  of  the  officers 
of  hia  own  vesoel.  He  also  oommended  the  officers  of  the 
Niagara,  Mr.  Paokett  of  the  Ariel,  and  Mr.  Champlin  of  the 
Scorpion,  h  is  now  believed  that  the  omission  of  the  names 
of  the  commanders  of  the  gun-vessels  astern,  was  accidental. 
It  would  seem  that  these  vessels,  in  general,  were  conducted 
with  great  gallantry.  Towards  the  clcae  of  the  action,  indeed, 
tbA  CSledonia,  and  some  of  the  gun-teaaels,  would  appear  to 
have  been  handled  with  a  bolonesa,  considering  their  total 
want  of  quarters,  bordering  on  temerity.  Tliey  are  known  to 
have  been  within  hall  of  the  enemy,  at  the  moment  he  struck, 
and  to  have  been  hailed  by  him.    The  grape  and  canister 


iiii 


[1813. 


in&i 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


305 


thrown  by  th«  Ningnni  and  the  iK^hooncr.,  during  th«  la.t  ton 
minuted  of  tho  baltlo,  and  which  ,..i««nl  Jhfl  eiKiiny.  raUlwl 
throuuh  the  spam  of  th«  friendly  vowola,  a«  thoy  lay  oppoaite 
to  each  other,  raking  'h*.  I'.ngli-h  alwad  and  aatcrn. 

Captain  I'erry  waa  criliciHiMl,  at  tho  time,  for  tho  manner  In 
which  ho  had  brought  hi«  •qundron  into  action,  it  b.«ing  thought 
he  thould  have  waited  until  hia  lino  wa»  moro  compactly 
formed,  and  hu  imall  ve-ela  could  have  closed.     It  ha«  been 
■aid,  that  "  an  officer  ioldom  wont  into  iiction  wono,ot  got 
out  of  it  better."    Truth  i«  too  often  made  tho  •""'"cooT 
antithesis.     The  mode  of  attack  nppenra  to  have  been  deemed 
by  the  enemy  judicious,  an  opinion  that  spfmks  in  its  favour. 
The  lightno«i  of  the  wind,  in  edging  down,  was  tho  only  cir- 
cuinstance  that  was  parUcularly  adver«>  to  the  American  vom 
■oU,  but  its  total  failure  could  not  have  been  foreseen.     Ihe 
shortness  of  tho  dUtances  on  the  lake  rendered  escape  so  ewy, 
when  an  officer  was  dispow^l  to  avoid  a  battle,  that  no  com. 
roander,  who  desired  an  action,  would  have  been  pardonable 
for  permitUng  a  delay  on  sucl^  a  plea.    The  line  of  battle  wa. 
highly  judicious,  the  manner  in  which  the  Uwrenoe  was  sup- 
ported by  the  Ariel  and  Scorpion  being  simple  and  ingenious. 
By  steering  for  the  head  of  the  enemy's  line,  the  latter  was 
prevented  from  gaining  the  wind  by  tackinc,  and  when  Captoin 
Elliott  imitated  tliis  manoBUvre  in  the  Niagara,  the  American 
squadron  had  a  very  commanding  position,  of  which  Oaptam 
Perry  promptly  availed  himself.    In  a  word,  the  Amenam 
commander  appears  to  have  laid  his  plan  with  skill  and  judf- 
ment,  and,  in  all  in  which  it  was  frustrated,  it  would  seem  to 
have  been  Ihe  effect  of  accident.    There  has  never  been  but 
one  opinion  of  the  manner  in  which  he  redeemed  his  error, 
even  admitting  thit  a  fault  was  made  at  the  ojitwrt ;  the  united 
movements  of  the  Niagara  and  of  the  small  veasels,  at  the 
ckM  of  the  action,  having  beMi  as  judicious  as  they  were  gal- 
lant and  decUive.    The  personal  deportment  of  Captain  Perry , 
throughout  the  day,  was  worthy  of  all  praise.    He  did  not 
quit  Ws  own  vessel  when  she  became  useless,  to  retire  from 
the  battle,  but  to  gain  it ;  an  end  that  was  ftilly  obtained,  and 
an  efibrt  which  resulted  in  a  triumph.  „     ,    ,     v.      a 

The  British  vessels  appear  to  have  been  gallantbr  fought,  ana 
ware  surrendered  only  when  the  battle  was  hopelessly  lost 
The  fall  of  their  difierent  commanders  was  materially  against 
them,  though  it  is  not  probable  the  day  could  have  been  teen. 
ve^^^  afler  the  Niagara  gamed  the  head  of  their  line  and  the 


896 


NAVAL     mSTOKY. 


[II1M4. 


gun^vesseia  had  closed.  If  the  «»n»y  snads  as  error,  \i  was 
in  not  tacking  whnn  he  atlempuNi  to  waro,  but  it  ia  quits  pn>> 
babia  that  Itw  coodition  of  hit  vmaala  did  not  admit  of  tk% 
fortner  nMnauvra.  Thara  waa  ui  ioatant  whao  the  enamy  b*> 
licvod  himaaif  th«  con4|ucn)r,  and  a  (av  minutoa  «vail,  whM 
the  Americana  doubtt^l ;  but  tho  latter  n«vnr  daepeired  |  a  mo^ 
meot  auflio^d  to  chan|f4  ih«iir  irollnga,  teachietf  ihet  aurrwaaAil 
the  fiokl«D«w  of  fortune,  and  adtnooiahing  the  dq>n«eed  ot  Um 
virtue  of  peraevenuice. 

For  hia  oonduct  in  thia  battle,  Captain  Perry  rooeived  ■  gold 
medal  from  (Jongmaa.  Captain  Elliott  alao  racwivsd  a  ^i 
modal.  Rewarda  went  beatowod  on  tho  olilloera  and  meOi 
generally,  and  the  nation  haa  long  ooaaiderod  thia  aotioa  oitt 
of  ita  proiidoat  achievementa  on  this  water. 

On  the  U8d  of  Oi;tober,  the  aquaitron  trantportad  the  armj 
of  General  Harriaon  to  Buihloi  and  on  the  Il5lh,  Captain  Perry 
raaiiped  the  command  of  the  upper  lale^M  to  Ca|)<ain  KlHoCt, 
repairing  himaelf  to  the  ana-boara,  Nov<^mber  UOth,  thia  f«i« 
lent  and  auccoaadil  officer  received  the  commiMioit  of  a  cap* 
lain,  which  waa  tkled  on  the  day  of  the  victory,  and  aoon  after 
he  waa  appointed  to  the  oomnMnd  of  the  Java  44,  a  new  fVi* 
gale,  tbea  6tlitig  for  •)•  at  BalUniore. 


CHAPTBR  XLV. 

In  February,  1814,  three  veaaeb  w<ei«  laid  down  at  the  Har* 
bour,  a  ftigate  of  AO  guna,  and  two  large  briga,  pieroed  (br  M 
guna  each.  An  \\m  Engrli^h  were  known  lo  be  miikling exlenaive> 
ly,  the  timber  waa  abo  got  out  fbr  a  aaoond  Ihgate.  Early  in 
March  many  deaerters  came  in,  who  agmed  in  atatin^  that 
the  targeat  of  the  eaem\y*a  new  ahipa,  which  had  been  laid 
down  tSo  prsfioua  autumn,  waa  oanlked  and  decked,  and  lh«t 
ahe  waa  pierced  fur  00  guna.  A  th'.Ti  ahip  waa  abo  aaid  to 
be  in  preparation.  In  oooaaquanoe  of  thia  intelligence,  the  aian 
of  the  firat  American  (Hgate  waa  matorially  inereaaed.  Marnh 
39th,  the  important  in(brm«tion  waa  obtained  that  the  en«my 
had  actually  laid  down  a  twonleoked  veaael  of  unuaual  dimen> 
liona.    Thua  did  thoae  inland  wnlert,  on  which,  until  quid 


UMl 


KATAL  MIfTOlfi 


397 


Ulol^,  nothinf  hwl  wer  A^niImI  lnrRW  ihaa  a  tloop  of  war,  M 
Stir  to  witnesi  tJw  -voluSsoua  -M'  Rsets !  ,         ,  ^     ak- 

On  Uw 7th  of  Ai.nl  oo«of  the  now  l.ng.  *»a»  Inuiic^Jd.  Biw 
WM  oalM  tho  Je4r*>o.  Hlill  »ho  gun.  which  Iwid  ha  lN«w 
York  tw.  monlh-  pmioiwly,  had  not  •v«  n«oh.Kl  AH«ny. 
Th«  dher  brif  WM  \t^omhod  .h.  tiM  lOlh.  and  wa»  cnll«d  tho 
Jonoa.  No!  a  man  or  ||.k.,  bow«ver.  had  yot  .rrtved.  Apnl 
tba  nih,  tha  ooamy  wa«  iwcertaiiMtd  to  bn  in  lh.»  »inmn,  wUh 
all  hii  rm»»\»  of  the  P«>«)u«  year ;  ..h1  «n  •»«  '<|*^' "^f  P") 
hi.  two  iVigalM  Into  th«  watar.  Tho  Lady  of  the  Ulw  wm 
Mot  out  U»  watch  th«  moUooa  of  tha  I-InglmSs,  a.  1000  ai  tho 
ttato  of  the  ica  parmittad.  r>    .•      j^   ..^ 

April  aftlh,  while  rowing  guard,  Liruterant  Dudley  cfc)te.,ted 
thrae  boau  in  tho  offing,  and  immediately  hml  into  thoin. 
The  .tranger.  did  not  return  tha  fire,  but  pulled  .w.llly  awav 
ObUiningV  ^.inforcmant.  Mr.  Dudley  gave  cha«,  but  could 
not  atain  fall  in  with  tha  iuapicioui  party.    The  next  «lay 
thare  waa  a  do.,  •earch.  and  at  tho  .pot  whore  the  rtraniP^- 
reoeived  the  fire  of  the  guard-boat,  .ix  barrel  of  gunpowiler 
were  found  in  the  lake,  tlung  in  tuch  «  inanner,  «»»»;r  "»", 
might  carry  two  at  a  time.  .»cr«ae  hu  .hcnilder:.    The^  nmJ 
ru=«-hol«.,  and  were,  no  douW,  mtendad  to  blow  up  the  fngMe. 
On  tho  ad  of  May  tho  American  frigate  wa.  launched. 
£.  ,  waa  called  tho  Superior.     Atwther  of  lew  iitfi,  wai  im- 
mediately  laid  down  on  her  block..    The  gun.  h*gHu  to  amve 
t  the  Harbour  about  the  beginning  of  May.  though  the  heavi- 
eet  were  .till  working  their  way  through  the  imperfect  na*.ga. 
tion  "f  the  Mohawk  and  Wood  Creek,  toward.  Oswego.     On 
tho  4th,  the  Lady  of  tlie  Uke,  Lieutenant  Urogorv,  .aw  tix 
•ail  of  the  enemy  coming  out  of  Kingiton,  ub. >ut  au.k,  .^nng 
toward.  Amhertt  Bay ;  and  on  the  »th.  the  latter  appeared  off 
0.weR0,  with  m^n  Mil.    The  greate.t  exertions  were  now 
^ITget  the  Pike,  M^dmn,  Joftreon,  8y>ph.  «»<*  ^';«|i«; 
ready  to  follow  him  ;  the*,  being  all  the  yitmmU  that  h*d  their 
armiment.,  ihe  .mall  «jhooner.  being  pretty  r"«";«»y  ^• 
donad  a.  crui*.r.,  and  convert**  tntotran.port..     "»'«'«P«rt 
wa.  laoeived  fVom  Captain  Woolly,  then  on  duty  at  Ofjvrejo, 
that  one  of  the  new  frigatea  wa»  corttmly  m  the  enemy  • 
iKiuadron ;  and  Mr.  Gregory  brought '°  «nf«'n«^«^'«' J^TJ^ 
^n  the  other  off  tb^  Duck,  the  «ime  day :  when  ^^""^"dow 
Chaunoey  abandoned  tha  intention  '  >  ^o  out.  tlie  great  .upen- 
ority  of  the  English  putting  a  battle  out  of  the  que.twn. 
M 


*•«•" 


MAf  AL    MIITOftf. 


(Illl 


Th*  •cliw  cniiMiig  forre  un<W'r  Htr  Jaimv  Yw),  mniiialad 
or  «hn  Priao«  U.-Kfiil  5H,  ('«|.««m  (nVmrnT,  lh«'  fUgihip, 
•rinMl  with  h^uvy  l>»ntf  guna,  itiity-«nK*»'  •"'!  lhiri)r«w«»-|»«Hiii(l 
flarniMdra,  wni  ontalnuig  wwr  WHhnrn  j  lh«  l»rmo«iM<;>uir. 
loltK  ♦»,  ()«l>uin  Mulwuier,  having  gtina  iwarlv  <»r  «|uit«  u 
bMvy,  atul  bi(wf!«n  MM)  sitd  40U  men |  the  Montrtnl,  (latn 
Wolfe,)  C«|tUiin  lk>wnwi ;  ih«  Niogara,  (!•««  Hoyal  (Jflorijo.) 
Cuptain  H«)t)h«mj  iha  (.'harwoll,  (Utn  M»Mra,)  Li«uU)iMn( 
Dobba  I  Magnet,  (lain  Huliwy  Hmiih  ;)  lb*-  Hmr,  i  lot«  Mflvilln,) 
Captain  Clover  I  and  lh«  Nelley,  (latn  H»»roiir.ir«l,)  Lmui.'nant 
Owen.  It  waa  ovklenl  that  nothing  leea  than  unuaually  hi'avy 
(Vigatea  ctwM  li»i  ngainat  tho  largfiit  of  Ihflaa  vraaela. 

<;a|Hain  Wc>«)l««»y  hail  lumn  mn\  lo  Oawngo,  lu  trnnaport  the 
hmvy  guiui,  rabUni,  &c.,  of  lh«)  two  iww  firigitl.'s,  nHMit  <.f  which 
had  reached  iho  falU,  twolvo  miU«i  ab<»v<>  that  town,  wh«re  they 
were  kept  for  the  aako  of  eocurity,  until  Iha  achoon^ra  cwjld  bo 
ItHidwl,  and  deapat«-hed  aingly.  Th«  (Jruwiflr  waa  in  the  rirer 
with  that  objwt,  when  Hir  Jamea  Yeo  awnMirod  iu  thfl  ofRng. 
He  waa  aUnit  U)  nnnkc  a  dt-moent,  with  n  htxly  of  triiopii,  on  tho 
6th,  but  th«  w«)ath«r  indiKXid  him  U»  dcfcr  tlw  «nt«?rpriic.  On 
Ihia  oooaaion,  there  waa  aome  firing,  and  tho  «H«niy  abandoned 
■n  empty  bit  or  two.  Tho  aucawding  day,  however,  every 
thing  being  Cuvourable,  the  original  deaign  waa  reaumed.       • 

At  tho  monient  whnn  Sir  Janwn  Y««)  np|)e«rcd,  a  battalion 
of  the  light  artillery,  con»i«ting  of  UW)  effeclivcii,  undrr  Licu- 
tanant  Colonel  Mitchell,  waa  at  Fort  ()aw«g(»,  and  but  a  f«w 
militia  h«l  been  called  in,  the  adjacent  country  being  littio 
more  than  a  wilderneM.  It  would  treapoae  on  another  branch 
of  the  atabject,  minutely  lo  relato  tho  aflWr  thot  followed.  Lieu- 
tenant General  Drummond  landed,  and  carriwi  tho  place  nftor 
a  aharp  leaiatanoe ;  the  Americana  having  too  imall  a  force  to 

repel  him.  . 

Tte  enemy  remained  two  dnya  atOawego,  when  thojr  raiaed 
tho  Growler,  and  carried  her  off;  thia  making  tho  third  timo 
that  veaaal  had  been  taken  during  the  laat  year.  But  Aiw 
•torea  werw  found  in  the  villaoe,  the  ordera  of  Commodore 
Chauncey  having  rtsquired  that  they  ahould  be  kept  at  the  falla, 
until  veaaela  were  ready  to  receive  them. 

Sir  Jamoa  Yeo  now  returned  to  Kingaton,  landed  the  troopa, 
tad  on  the  I  »th,  he  came  out  and  chaaed  the  Ladjr  of  the  Lake 
into  the  Harbour,  off  which  place  he  appeared  with  fotir  thipa 
and  three  brifa,  blockading  the  port,  for  the  flrat  and  only  time 
during  the  war.     At  thb  momut,  many  of  the  storea,  and 


CUM 

,  cofMurtod 
(lng.hipj 
tw<H|Mnnia 
etiM  Ch»t' 
r  quim  M 
tm\,  (Uitfl 
I  Ow)r»{i»,) 
I^MUtniianl 
t  M«-lvill<i,) 
l<i«u(rnant 
Ally  hcKvy 

inaport  lh« 
tdtcfwhich 
whore  tlwy 
in  ccMjId  bit 
in  the  rirer 
thfl  offlng. 
Ki|)N,  rifi  tho 
rpriw.  On 
nhttncioncd 
ever,  ovory 
jmed. 
a  battalion 
inckr  Lieu* 
ij  hut  a  f«w 
being  httlo 
th«r  branch 
ited.    Lieu> 

I  place  after 

II  a  force  to 

they  raised 
)  third  time 
r.  But  A)w 
Commodore 
;  at  the  falla, 

1  the  troop*. 

oftbeLMO 
h  Tour  ship* 
nd  (mly  time 

•tores,  and 


* 

1 

9 

tttl) 

NAVAL    MItTORV. 

_        _                                                                    .1.11 

399 

aL .ft_       .i.                                                                                                                                      I 

wimti  of  iht  lighter  guns,  wnr«  eomlai  la  bv  l«ml,  though  the 
heavy  gun*  «•»>  mUitm  atill  raiiMinid  in  llM  Oawngo  rivM. 
AUmiI  the  niKidln  of  Mny,  n  infor«finnnt«  ofolkwiind  timn 
bnuan  ti»  «rri»n  from th«t  iK«lx»ar«l.  Tlw  MiundoalM h«d ImmB 
laid  up  in  the  Thamea,  aixl  Mr.  Hmlgtir.,  hiir  ftr»t  linutrnant, 
came  in  with  hnr  crew,  Imtwitm  th«i  I  llh  and  the  'J  I  it.  t^ap. 
tain  Klli<»tt  mjoinrd  the  •lalion  on  the  lUlh,  and  CapUin 
Trnnrhard  on  th«>  Iftih.  'IV  Krir,  a  n«iw  nl.n.p  of  war,  then 
blo<'ka<J»Kl  at  Haltiinoni,  had  al«o  htmn  laid  up,  and  h.ir  com- 
IWindflr,  Captain  ttidgrly,  with  hi*  iKHipln.arrrived  nonni  tim« 
before,  and  were  jMit  on  lH«rd  the  JelRinwn. 

Notwithntanding  all  the  eMrtiona  that  h-d  liwn  made  in 
huildinn,  llw  nhuMi  w«nt  uanlww  without  gunn  and  cahl««i,  and 
rnoat  of  th'JWJ  inteadinl  for  the  two  frigate*,  hail  yi-t  to  be  trana- 
jK.rted  to  the  Harbour  by  walrr,  th«jir  weight  and  lh«  utato  of 
the  roaila  rendering  other  ineana  too  wwtly  and  diffuult.  ( 'ap. 
tain  Woobey,  who  waa  atill  entruateil  with  thia  duty,  cauaed 
reporU  to  bb  circulated  that tlw  heavy  artiihw  were  to  be  aent 
l,nrk  to  the  Oneida  lake;  and  when  time  had  bi«n  allowwl  for 
the  enemy  to  recnivo  thia  fulio  infi>rin(itioii,  he  ran  tlm  guna 
over  the  falla,  ami  at  auna.!t,  on  the  iiHth  of  May,  ho  reached 
Gawego  with  10  boaU  loaded  with  Ul  iong  thirty-two-poundera, 
18  twenty-four  poundnra,  3  forty-two-pound  carronadea,  and 
10  cable*.  The  look-outa  having  reported  the  cxwat  clear,  th« 
brigade  of  boata  n)w«Hl  out  of  the  river,  at  duak,  and  after  paaa- 
ing  a  dark  and  rainy  night  at  the  oara,  rt«ch«l  the  mouth  of 
Big  Salmon  River,  at  aunriac  on  the  a9th,  one  boat  having 
unaccountably  disappeared. 

Captain  Woolaoy  waa  accompanied  by  a  detachment  of  130 
riflemen,  under  Major  Appling,  and  at  the  Big  Salmon  ho  alio 
met  a  party  of  Oneida  Indiann,  which  had  been  directed  to  fol- 
low  on  the  ahore.  Tho  brigade  now  proceeded,  onteriHl  the 
Big  Sandy  Crwik.and  Mcm&d  about  two  miles  to  iU  place  of 
destination ;  the  blockade  rendering  it  necewary  to  convey  the 
•uppliea  by  land  the  remainder  of  the  distance. 

At  thia  time,  the  English  squadron  lay  at  anchor,  a  few 
miles  from  the  Harbour,  and  the  missing  lw>nt  had  gone  ahead, 
in  the  profoaaed  hope  of  making  the  whole  distance  by  water. 
Seeing  the  English  ships,  either  by  mistake  or  treochery  it 
ixdted  directly  for  them,  under  a  belief,  reol  or  pretended,  that 
thoy  were  Americans.  It  is  thought,  however,  that  the  people 
in  the  boat  were  deceived. 
From  the  prisoner^,  Sir  James  Yeo  leanMd  the  stturtioo  of 


,<liil|l>li>lllll       Ml" 


.^ini  «  I  iiipi  il»i« 


400 


NAVAL     HIBTORT. 


[1814. 


the  remainder  of  the  brigade.    He  had  gun*boat8  on  the  sta- 
tion,  and  Captain  Pt<j»hain  of  the  Montreal,  was  put  into  one, 
and  Captain  Spilsbury  into  another  having  throe  cutters  and  a 
gig  in  company.    After  cruising  without  success,  separately, 
the  two  parties  joined,  and  having  ascertained  that  the  brigade 
had  entered  Sandy  Crock,  they  followed  on  the  80th,  with  the 
expectation  of  capturing  it.     Major  Appling,  being  apprised  of 
the  approach  of  the  enemy,  placed  his  riflemen,  supported  by 
the  Indians,  in  ambush,  about  half  a  milo  below  the  place 
where  Captain  Woolsey  was  discharging  the  stores.    The  ene- 
my had  a  party  of  marines  on  board,  under  two  lieutenants  of 
that  corps.    These,  in  conjunction  with  a  body  of  seamen, 
were  landed,  and  the  sun.boats  approached,  throwing  grape  and 
canister  into  the  bushes,  with  a  view  to  feel  their  way.    Ma- 
jor  Appling  permitted  the  enemy  to  get  quite  near,  when  he 
threw  in  a  close  discharge  of  the  rifle.    The  resistance  was 
triising,  and  in  ten  minutes  the  whole  of  the  English  demanded 
quarter.    The  enemy  had  a  midshipman  and  18  seamen  and 
marines  killed,  and  2  lieutenants  of  marines,  with  26  common 
men  wounded.    In  addition  to  the  wounded,  there  was  a  suffi* 
oient  number  of  prisoners  made  to  raise  his  total  loss  to  186. 
All  the  boaU  were  taken,  the  three  gun-vessels  carrying  68, 
24, 18  and  12  pound  carronades.    Among  the  prisoners  were 
C^>tain8  Popham  and  Spilsbury,  4  sea-lieutenants,  and  2  mid- 
shipmen.    Although  there  was  a  considerable  force  a  short 
distance  above,  without  the  range  of  the  rifle,  the  command  of 
Major  Appling,  which  eflbcted  this  handsome  exploit,  was 
scarcely  equal  to  the  enemy  in  numbers,  and  yet  he  had  but » 
siogle  man  wounded.    This  little  success  was  theelfectofa 
surprise  and  au  ambush. 

Most  of  the  Superior's  guns  bftving  now  arrived,  the  enemy 
raised  the  blockade  on  the  6th  of  June.  Two  days  hiter  the 
last  of  the  guns  actually  reached  Sackett's  Harbour.  The  fri- 
gate which  had  been  laid  down  on  the  blocks  of  the  Superior, 
was  launched  on  the  11th  of  June,  having  been  put  into  the 
water  in  84  workii«  days,  from  the  time  her  keel  was  laid. 
She  was  called  the  Mohawk.  Still  the  squadron  was  500  men 
short  of  its  complements,  though  the  crew  of  the  Congress  38, 
which  was  undei^ing  extensive  repairs,  at  Pdrtsmouth,  N. 
H.,  had  been  ordered  to  this  service.  About  the  middle  of  the 
month,  the  latter  b^an  to  arrive.  The  enemy  also  continued 
to  reinforce  both  his  army  and  his  marine,  200  boats  at  a  time 
having  been  observed  pawing  up  the  St.  LawrezM». 


[1814. 

I  on  the  tta- 
lit  into  one, 
iutten  and  a 
,  separately, 
t  the  brigade 
)th,  with  the 
;  appriied  of 
lupported  by 
swthe  place 
B.  The  ene* 
eutenanta  of 
1  of  aeamen, 
ng  grape  and 
r  way.  Ma* 
f»r,  when  he 
aistance  was 
sh  demanded 

aeamen  and 
I  26  common 
a  waa  a  tuffi* 
I  loss  to  lee. 
narrying  68, 
riaonera  were 
I,  and  2  mid* 
force  a  short 
i  command  of 
exploit,  Mras 

he  had  but » 
theefi^tofa 

d,  the  enemy 
days  later  tto 
lur.  The  fri- 
the  Superior, 
.  put  into  the 
keel  was  laid, 
was 500  men 
Congreaa  38, 
Mamouth,  N. 
middle  of  the 
liso  continued 
KMts  at  a  time 
tee. 


1/ 


I 


L^silMl 


^'■'•^., 


f" 

>' 


*i'-v.^.. 


1814.1 


NATAL    HI8T0BT. 


401 


About  tlie  middle  of  tho  month,  Commodore  Chaunoey  •es* 
Acting  LJcufeaant  Gregory,  v/ith  throe  gigs,  iato  the  St.  Law- 
rence, where  the  enemy  had  a  line  of  gun-boat«,  to  cover  the 
PMaaae  of  hit  auppliea  and  reinforoements,  with  directiom  to 
Inuprise  tome  of  Ws  boats  loaded  with  stores,  and,  if  possible, 
to  destroy  them.  For  this  purpose  Mr.  Gregory  lav  in  aiB- 
bosh  on  one  of  the  islands,  but  was  discovered  by  the  took-outs 
of  the  enemy,  who  immediately  deapatched  a  gun-boat  m  chase. 
Instead  of  retiring  before  this  fiwoe,  Mr.  Gregory  determined 
tobecome  the  assailant,  and  he  dashed  at  the  gun-boat,  oax- 
rrins  her  without  the  loes  of  a  raaa.  Thia  vessel  had  aa 
eighteeniMind  earronade,  and  a  crew  of  18  nen.  While  pre- 
OMding  u»  the  river  with  his  priie,  Mr.  Gregory  was  chaaatf 
by  a  much  larger  boat,  mounting  2  guns,  and  puUuig  a  great 
Bomber  of  oare,  which  compelled  him  to  ecuttie  and  abandoo 
her.  On  this  occasion  Mr.  Gregory  was  acoompaaied  by 
Messrs.  Vaughan  and  Dixon,  two  gallant  manners  of  the  laka, 
and  he  breught  in  nearly  as  many  prisoners  aa  he  bad  Hten. 

Ten  days  later,  Mr.  Gregory  was  sent  with  two  g»g^  «5- 
oompanied  as  before  by  Messrs.  Vaughan  and  Dixon,  to  Ni- 
obdaa  Island,  near  Presque  Isle,  where  the  vway  hmi  •. 
cruiser,  intenied  to  mount  14  guns,  newly  ready  to  launch, 
and  to  endeavour  to  destroy  her.  This  duty,  alter  running 
much  risk,  and  suftring  greaUy  from  hunger,  was  e^wctuaUy 
peribrmed  by  the  party,  which  was  absent  near  a  week.  1  be 
day  alter  his  wtum  horn  this  expedition,  Mr.  Gregory  received 
the  sommiaaioa  of  a  lieutenant,  which  had  been  conferred  on 
him  for  the  handsome  manner  in  which  he  had  captured  the 

*"on  the  afternoon  of  the  Slst  of  July,  Commodore  Chaunow, 
wlw  had  been  very  ill,  wes  carried  on  boaid  the  Superior,  ud 
the  American  squadron  sailed.  Its  force  consisted  of  the  Su- 
perior  69,  Lieutenant  Elton,  Commodore  Chaunoey ;  Mohawk 
&,  '^aptoin  Jones;  Pike  88,  Captain  Crane;  Madison  24, 
Ca'  TTrenchard ;  Jefierson  28,  Cautam  Ridgely ;  Jones  88, 
CapHun  Woolsey ;  Sylph  14,  Captain  Elliott ;  Oneida  14,  Lwo- 
tg^Dt  Commandant  Brown,  and  the  Lady  of  the  Uke,  took- 
oat  vessel.  There  is  no  question  that  this  forw,  which^th 
the  excepion  of  the  Oneida,  was  oompoeed  of  cffieient  vesaeu, 
mm  superior  to  that  of  the  English,  who  were  stnving  to  regin 
the  aswmdency,  by  oonstrucUng,  as  fert  aa  possible,  the  two- 
decker  already  mentioned.  . 

Commodore  Chaunceyi  whose  Mh  wpidly  improved  in 
84*  84     " 


r 


wmm^f^^m 


' 


NAYAL    HISTORr. 


[1814. 


the  pun  air  of  the  Iak4,  eppearad  off  the  Niagara,  now  bv  th<i 
vicia«itudea  or  war  ac;ain  in  the  poHeaaion  ol'  the  Engltah,  oa 
the  0th  of  August.  Am  the  American  veaMli  approached,  they 
inteieepted  one  of  the  English  briga,  which  was  convoving 
troopa  rrom  York  to  Niagara,  and  she  was  chased  ashore  about 
two  le^Hues  to  the  westward  of  Port  George. 

ComnnKKiore  Chaunoey  left  the  Jeflbrson,  Sylph,  and  Oneida 
to  « k.'ch  two  brigs  of  the  enemy,  whu  were  then  lying  in  the 
Niagara,  and  went  off  Kingston,  where  he  arn"^,'  on  the  9th. 
One  of  the  English  ships  was  iu  the  offing,  and  was  chased 
into  porf  '«7  the  American  squadron.  The  neit  day,  the  Jonee, 
Captain  \^'  ^Isey,  was  sent  to  cruise  between  Oswego  and  the 
Harbour ;  and  the  Conquest,  Lieutenant  Reid,  one  of  the  best 
of  the  schooners,  which  had  been  kept  anned  for  any  light  ser> 
▼ice  that  might  ofier,  was  employed  on  the  same  duty,  the 
enemy  having  intercepted  some  fkwr  that  was  passing,  by 
means  of  boats. 

From  this  time,  until  the  month  of  Oetaber,  Conuaiodora 
Chaunoey  continued  a  close  blockade  of  Sir  James  Yeo,  in 
Kinsston,  having .  undisputed  command  o(  the  entire  lake. 
With  a  view  to  tempt  the  English  to  come  out,  he  kept  only 
fiMir  vessels  in  the  offing,  and  as  the  enemy  3)ad  an  oquai 
number,  it  was  thought  the  provocation  might  induce  him  to 
risk  a  batde.  Some  guns  were  also^sent  ashore,  with  a  view 
to  bring  the  vessels  as  near  as  posaible  to  an  equality.  The 
American  ships  were  the  Superior  68,*  Mohawk  49,  Pike  38, 
lind  Madison  34 ;  the  British,  the  Prince  R^ot  68,  Princess 
Charlotte  43,  Wolfe  36,  and  Niagara  34.  There  was  also  a- 
large  schooner  at  Kinsston,  and  several  gun-boats  and  smaller 
vessels.  It  is  probabto  that  there  was  a  trilling  su^riority  on 
die  part  of  the  Americans,  notwithstanding;  for  m  a  conflict 
between  vesaels  of  so  much  force,  the  smaller  craft  could  be 
of  no  great  moment ;  but  it  was  such  a  superiority  as  the  enemy 
had  long  been  ai  '>stomed  to  disregard ;  and  the  result  showed 
that  the  American  marine  commanded  his  respect  to  a  itgne 
whidi  rendered  the  minutest  ealoolations  offeree  necessary. 

Gta  the  30th  of  August,  the  blockading  ships  were  liriveo  off 
by  a  gale;  and  on  regaining  their  statioii  on  the  36tb,  the- 
enemy  could  not  be  seen  in  port.    Lieutenant  Qr^jy,  -w'ah 
Mr.  Hart,  a  midshipman,  was  immediately  sent  in,  in  n  irrt^,  to 
reoooaoitre.    Whin  on  this  duty,  Mr.  Gregory  landua  io  seS 


'  Few  gans  baviag  bisn  ksM 


^ 


iiiiiiitMiaitii 


■"N*- 


[1814. 


1114.1 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


403 


lira  'M  a  raft  orpiok«t-timher  that  he  accidentally  paaaod.  ThL 
deviation  from  Im  direct  route,  brought  the  gig  so  near  in-ahore, 
that  two  barges  of  the  euemy,  carrying  90  men,  were  enabled 
to  head  it,  aa  it  doubled  a  point.  A  chaae,  and  a  sharp  fire  of 
musketry  onaued,  Mr.  Cfregory  peraevering  in  hia  attempt  to 
etcapo,  until  Mr.  Hart  W!»s  killed,  and  f7"e  men  out  of  eight 
were  wounded,  when  thi*  enterpriaing  officer  waa  obliged  *o 
surrender. 

On  tho  11th  of  September,  the  wind  came  from  the  north' 
.  ward,  when  Commodore  Chauncey  stood  in  towards  Kingston, 
and  brought-to,  just  without  tho  drop  of  the  shot  from  the  bat- 
teries ;  and  the  ahipa  hoisted  thoir  onsigrti,  aa  a  challenue  for 
the  enemy  to  come  out.  The  Kngliflh  sprung  their  broadaides 
to  bear,  set  their  colours,  but  did  not  accept  the  defiance.  It 
waa  now  seen  that  the  two-decker  waa  launched,  and  ahe  was 
ascertained  to  be  very  large.  After  remaining  close  in,  for  a 
considerable  time,  the  American  ahips  filled  and  gained  an 
ofling. 

The  next  day  it  eame  on  to  blow,  and  the  squadron  was 
compelled  to  make  an  ofling.  Tho  gale  laated  until  the  10th, 
when  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  joined,  to  nay  that  General  Isard 
bad  reached  the  Harbour.  The  ships  now  went  in,  for  tL 
first  time,  since  the  2d  of  August,  baring  kept  the  lake  4 
days ;  much  of  the  time  under  canvaaa.  C)n  the  10th,  t&i' 
look-out  vessel  was  sent  to  order  in  the  diflerent  brigs. 

The  division  of  Oeneral  Izard  was  landed  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Qenesee,  on  the  23d.  As  soon  as  thu  duty  was  performed, 
Commodore  Chauncey  went  oft*  Kingston  again,  where  he  ap- 
peared on  the  28th.  Tw«)  of  the  enemy's  ships  were  coming 
out  under  a  press  of  sail,  but  W6i«  driven  back.  The  29th, 
the  wind  being  ikir,  the  squadron  looked  into  Kingston  again, 
and  the  Lady  was  sent  close  in,  when  it.  was  found  that  the 
large  ship,wnich  had  been  called  the  St.  Lawreofle,  was  com- 
pletely ngged,  but  had  no  sails  bent.  As  this  vessel  waa 
pierced  for  112  guns,  and  was  intended,  for  metal  in  propor- 
tioii,  she  waa  m(M«  than  equal  to  mediae  the  whole  American 
ftvoe.  On  tho  0th  of  October,  the  Sy[ph  kmked  in  again,  and 
Ibttnd  her  saila  beot  and  topgallant-yanis  crossed,  when  Com- 
modore Chauncey  ran  over  to  the  Iforbour,  where  he  anchored 
00  tKe  7th,  and  prepared  to  receive  an  attaick. 

Sif  Jamas  Yeo  sailed  in  the  St.  Lawnmde,  with  four  other 
dnpa,  two  bri|p,  «k1  a  schooner,  cm  ths  10th  of  October,  and 
he  oootinBad  m  command  of  the  lake  tin  tlw  nmaindsr  of  tha 


■Hii 


4M 


KATAL    HISTOKT. 


11814 


mmmou.  He  «  wud  to  Imiv«  had  mow  ihan  1100  men  in  hia 
flu-ahip  5  and  it  waa  undaratood  that  tha  enemy  had  t»come 
■o  wary,  that  a  captain  waa  aiMiowid  on  each  deck.  Otiior 
duty  probably  occupied  him,  for  '-..>  attempt  waa  made  on  the 
Harbour,  nor  did  the  enerny  ,*en  blockade  it;  the  neoeaaitiea 
of  the  Niagara  frontier  calk  ng  hia  attention  in  thai  quarter, 
▲t  the  end  of  the  month  of  N.  vembar,  the  navigation  oioeed. 


P\ 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

In  the  autumn  of  1814,  the  enemy  oontemplaied  an  inta- 

urn  of  the  northern  and  least  populout  oountiee  of  New  York, 

with  a  largo  force,  following  the  route  laid  down  for  General 

Burgoyne,  in  hia  unfortunate  expedition  of  1777.    It  waa  moat 

probably  intended  to  occupy  a  portion  of  the  northern  fVontier, 

with  the  oxpectotion  of  turning  the  circumatanoe  to  account 

in  the  pending  negotiations,  the  Engluh  oororoiaaioneni  soon 

•fier  advancing  a  claim  to  drive  the  Americana  back  frgm 

their  ancient  boundaries,  with  a  view  to  leave  Great  Britain 

the  entire  poaaeasion  of  the  lakaa.    In  such  an  expedition,  f-M 

oommand  of  Charoplain  beoame  of  great  importance,  as  it 

flanked  the  march  of  the  invading  army  for  more  than  a  hun- 

dred  miles,  and  oflered  so  many  facilitioa  for  forwarding  aup- 

pliea,  as  well  as  for  annoyance  and  defiuice.    Until  this  sea- 

•on,  neither  nation  had  a  force  of  any  moment  on  that  water, 

but  the  Amerioans  had  built  a  v '     and  a  schooner,  during  the 

winter  and  spring  {  and  when  it  was  found  that  the  enemv 

waa  preparing  for  a  serious  effort,  the  keel  of  a  brig  waa  laid. 

Utay  gidleys,  or  gun>boats,  were  also  constructed. 

The  American  squadron  lay  in  Otter  Creek,  at  the  com- 
menoement  of  the  aeason ;  and  near  the  middle  of  May,  «■ 
itbe  veasela  then  launched  were  about  to  quit  port,  tha  enemy 
wipeaied  off  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  with  a  force  oonsuUnff 
^  toe  linnet  brig,  and  eight  or  ten  «lleys,  under  the  orders 
of  Captam  Pring,  with  a  view  to  fill  the  channel.  For  this 
«iirpoM  two  sloop*  loaded  with  stones  were  in  company.  A 
«nall  work  had  been  thrown  up  at  the  mouth  of  the  oieak 
«oine  time  previously,  by  Captain  Thornton  of  the  utiUeiy, 


iitei 


11814. 

men  in  hia 
id  beoonw 
:k.  Otlwr 
ndfl  on  the 
nfloeMitiM 
M  qiwrtar. 

DO  <UOM^ 


id  an  iova* 
Now  York, 
for  General 

It  WM  OKWt 

Bra  firontier, 
to  account 
ioneni  aoon 
bock  from 
treat  Britain 
pedition,  f''<c 
tance,  M  it 
than  a  hun- 
rardins  sup- 
ntil  thu  Ma- 
t  that  water, 
r,  during  the 
t  the  enemv 
rig  waa  laid. 
I. 

at  the  com* 
)  of  May,  tia 
t,  tha  enemy 
ce  oontiflting 
r  the  orders 
b1.  For  tbia 
ompany.  A 
of  the  creak 
Lbe  artillery, 


/ 


kk 


:„iifamgta.;;. 


i'l'li   i' 


NATAL    HllTORf. 


405 


ClMaix  wan  (i««(MtclM«l  with  n  party  <>('  •••• 
iMn,  to  tM  ttM  oilictit  III  liotontiiitK  ihn  poM.  Aiirr  u  t'ui« 
m)nii<iinK  of  wimnilunillua,  IhflntMttnv  rntinni  williuut  tilKtcting 
hi*  <)bj«<«l,  nml  lh«i  vemm'U  ^Dt  imt.  In  «lii«  nlRiif,  ih)  oiki  wu 
hurt  uo  tKn  «iiki  of  th<i  A  tiMirteaiw,  •lth<)U|{li  ahalU  wtira  tlimwit 

from  tNM  of  ih«  (("""y*- 

()n  tha  itthor  ImihI,  ihn  Kngliah  w«m  not  idl«.  In  uldiUon 
to  thfl  anMll  v«M«U  they  had  p(mmmmmm1  tha  proviuua  yMr,  th«]r 
had  b«iilt  (h<i  briK  jutt  ntfiiilioiuHl,  or  lh«  Linn«)t,  and  aa  aoon 
ta  thn  loat  Aiiu<ru'Bn  vt<Mii<l  wan  in  franwi,  thny  laid  tho  ko«l 
of  a  ahip.  Hy  conatructing  th«  InllHr,  n  grt«l  ndvanlnt(^  w«a 
iOtiumd,  cam  betng  (akon,  aa  a  matter  of  courao,  (o  niak<<  h«r 
of  a  aiw)  aufllciftnt  to  bn  certain  of  poaacaaiiig  tht  gmalMt 
foTcti.  Thti  Ainnrican  brig,  which  waa  onllrol  tlM»  Kagl",  wa» 
launchotl  abrmt  th<i  iniddi<i  of  Auguat;  and  thti  Kngliab  ahip, 
which  waa  nanMNJ  tlm  (^nillan'-n,  on  thn  '<iAlh  oi'  thn  aanie 
month.  Aa  tho  Hnghah  army  wim  alnwdy  c-alltst'ling  on  th« 
(Wmtier,  the  utmoat  oxertiona  w«ro  mada  by  both  aidna,  and 
each  app«MirfMl  on  tho  lake  oa  hn  got  rrady.  (Captain  M'l)o> 
nough,  wlio  atill  commandnd  the  American  Toroo,  wna  nnabl«d 
to  get  mit  n  few  dn  vi  Imlbre  hi*  ndvcmary  ;  and  (iruining  Uiing 
«|moa(  niii  i>r  tho  (|i»nati«m  tin  thia  long  and  narrow  UNly  of 
water,  h(<  advanced  aa  Taf  aa  I'lattaburg,  tho  |K>in(  wiloctcd  for 
the  defencw,  ami  anchored,  Iho  3d  of  Koptnmber,  on  tho  flank 
of  the  troop*  which  occupiod  the  «ntrenchnH>nta  at  that  place. 

About  thia  tinw<,  Sir  Goorm  i'revoat,  th*i  Hngliah  commander- 
in-chief,  advancf^i  againat  Plattaburg,  thon  he^ld  by  Brigadier 
Qeneral  Macomb  at  the  head  of  only  150U  tiirectivm,  with  a 
ibrcfl  that  probably  amounted  to  lU.OOO  men.  A  good  deal 
of  akirmiahing  eoaued ;  and  (Vom  the  7th  to  the  Uth,  the  mi»> 
my  waa  atnployed  in  bringing  up  hia  battering  train,  atorw, 
and  reinforoementa.  Captain  Downic,  latn  of  tho  Montreal, 
on  Lake  Ontario,  had  been  aent  by  Sir  Jamca  Yeo,  to  com- 
mand on  thia  lake. 

On  the  6lh,  Captain  M'Donough  ordered  thn  galleya  to  the 
head  of  the  bay,  to  annoy  tho  fingibh  army,  and  a  cannon- 
ading occurr«d  which  loatud  two  houra.  Thn  wind  coming  on 
to  blow  a  gale  that  menaced  th*  galleya  with  ahipwreck,  Mr. 
Duncan,  a  midahipman  of  the  Saratoga,  waa  aent  in  a  gig  to 
order  them  to  retire.  It  ia  auppoeed  that  tho  anncarance  of  the 
boat  induced  tlie  enemy  to  think  that  Captain  M'Donough  him- 
•elf  had  Joined  hia  galleya;  for  he  concentrated  a  Are  on  the 
pJOey  Mr.  Duncan  waa  in,  and  that  young  officer  received  a 


.^*— f 


Jam 


i 


406 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[1614 


severe  wound,  by  which  he  lost  the  use  of  his  arm.  After- 
wards one  of  the  golleys  drilled  in,  under  the  guns  of  the 
enemy,  and  she  also  sustained  some  losti,  but  was  eventually 
brought  off. 

Captain  M'Donough  had  chosen  an  anchorage  a  little  to  the 
south  of  the  outlet  of  the  Saranac.  His  vessels  lay  in  a  line 
parallel  to  the  coast,  extending  north  and  south,  and  distant 
from  the  western  shore  near  two  miles.  The  last  vessel  at  the 
southward  was  so  near  the  shoal,  as  to  prevent  the  English 
from  passing  that  end  of  the  line,  while  all  the  ships  lay  so  far 
,out  towards  Cumberland  Head,  as  to  bring  the  enemy  within 
reach  of  carronadcs,  should  he  enter  the  bay  on  that  side. 
The  Eagle,  Captain  Henley,  lay  nt  the  northern  extremity  of 
the  American  line,  and  what  might,  during  the  battle,  have 
been  called  its  head,  the  wind  being  at  the  northward  and 
eastward;  the  Saratoga,  Captain  M'Donough's  own  vessel, 
was  second  ;  the  Ticonderoga,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Cassin, 
third;  and  the  Preble,  Lieutenant  Charles  Budd,  last.  The 
PrebU  lay  a  little  farther  south  than  the  pitch  of  Cumberland 
Head.  The  first  of  these  vessels  just  mentioned  was  a  brig  of 
20  guns,  and  160  men,  all  told ;  the  second  a  ship  of  26  guns, 
and  212  men ;  the  third  a  schooner  of  17  guns  and  110  me  k ; 
the  last  a  sloop,  or  cutter,  of  7  guns  and  30  men.  The  metal 
of  all  these  vessels,  as  well  as  those  of  the  enemy,  was  unusu- 
ally heavy,  there  being  no  swell  m  the  lake  to  render  it  dan- 
gerous. The  Saratoga  mounted  8  long  twenty-fours,  6  forty- 
two,  and  12  thirty -two-pound  carronades;  the  Eagle,  8  long 
eighteens^  and  12  thirty-two-pound  caironades;  the  Ticonder- 
<^,  4  long  eighteens,  8  long  twelves,  and  4  thirty^two-pound 
carronades,  and  one  eighteon-pound  columbiad ;  the  Preble,  7 
long  nines.  In  addition  to  these  four  vessels,  the  Americans 
had  10  galleys,  or  gun-boats,  six  large  and  four  small.  Each 
of  the  former  mounted  a  long  twenty-four,  and  an  eighteen 
pound  columbiad ;  each  of  the  latter  one  long  twelve.  The 
galleys,  on  an  average,  had  about  35  men  each.  The  total 
K>rce  of  the  Americans  present  consisted,  consequently,  of  14 
vessels,  mounting  86  guns,  and  containing  about  850  men,  in- 
cluding officers  and  a  small  detachment  of  soldiers,  who  did 
duty  as  marines,  none  of  the  corps  having  been  sent  on  Lake 
Champlain.  To  complete  his  order  of  Iwttle,  Captain  M'Do- 
nough  directed  tv^o  of  the  gnlieys  to  keep  in-s!iore  of  the  Eagle, 
and  a  little  '<.o  windward  of  her,  to  sustain  the  head  of  the  line; 
one  or  two  more  to  lie  opposite  to  the  interval  between  the 


[1614 


leu.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


407 


Eag'.e  and  Snratogp  ;  a  icw  oppo  lito  to  the  interval  between  the 
Saratoga  and  Ticonderoga  ;  an'i  two  or  tlirco  opposite  the  in- 
terval between  the  Ticonderoga  and  Preble. 

The  Americana  were,  consequently,  forms. ^  in  two  lines, 
distant  from  each  other  about  40  yards  ;  the  largo  vessels  at 
anchor,  and  the  galleys  under  their  sweeps, 

Tiic  force  of  th'^  unemy  was  materially  greater  than  that  of  the 
Americans,  His  largest  vessel,  the  Confiance,  commanded  by 
Captain  Downie  in  |)erson,  had  the  gun-deck  of  a  heavy  fri- 
gate, mounting  on  it  an  armament  similar  to  that  of  the  Con- 
stitution or  United  States,  or  30  long  twenty-fours.  She  had  • 
no  spar-deck,  but  thers  was  a  spacious  top-gal'ant  forecastle, 
and  a  poop  that  came  no  farther  forward  than  the  mizzen-mast. 
On  the  first  were  a  long  twenty-four  on  a  circle,  and  4  heavy 
carronades ;  and  on  the  last  2  heavy  carronades,  making  an 
armament  of  37  guns  in  all.  Her  complement  of  men  is  sup- 
posed to  have  b^n  considerably  more  than  300.  The  next 
vessel  of  the  enemy  was  the  Linnet,  Captain  Pring,  a  brig  of 
16  long  twelves,  with  a  crew  of  from  80  to  100  men.  There 
were  two  slrops,  the  Chubb,  Lieutenant  M'Ghee,  and  the  Finch, 
Lieutenant  Hicks,  the  former  carrying  10  eighteen-pound  car- 
ronades, and  1  long  six,  and  the  latter  6  eighteen-pound  car- 
ronades, 1  eighteen-pound  columbiad,  and  4  long  sixes.  Each 
of  these  sloops  had  about  40  men.  To  these  ibur  vessels  were 
added  a  force  in  galleys,  or  gun-boats,  which  Sir  G»orge  Pre- 
vost,  in  his  published  accounts,  stales  at  twelve  in  number,  and 
Captain  M'Donou^h  at  thirteen.  These  vessels  were  similarly 
constrrcted  to  the  American  galleys,  eight  mounting  two,  and 
the  remainder  but  one  gun  each,  Th'ts  the  whole  force  of 
Captain  Downie  consisted  of  sixteen  or  seventeen  vessels,  as 
the  case  may  have  been,  mounting  in  all,  95  or  06  guns,  and 
carrying  about  1000  men. 

On  the  8d  of  September,  the  British  gun-boats  sailed  from 
Isle  aux  Noix,  under  the  orders  of  Captain  Priag,  to  cover  the 
loft  flank  of  their  army.  On  the  4th  that  officer  took  posses- 
sion of  Isle  au  Motte,  whore  he  constructed  a  battery,  and 
landed  some '  supplies  for  the  troops.  On  the  eth,  the  four 
larger  vessels  arrived  under  Captain  Downie,  but  remained  at 
anchor  until  the  11th,  waiting  to  receive  some  necessaries. 
At  daylight,  on  the  morning  just  mentioned,  the  whole  force 
weighed,  and  moved  forward  in  a  body.        i 

The  guard-boai  of  the  Americans  pulled  in  shortly  after  the 
sun  had  risen,  and  announced  the  approach  of  the  enemy.   As 


408 


KAVAL     HISTORY. 


[1814. 


V 


the  wind  waa  fair,  a  good  working  breeze  at  the  northward 
and  eastward,  Captain  M'Donough  ordcreti  the  vcascls  cleared, 
and  preparations  made  to  tight  at  cnchor.  Eight  beiis  were 
striking  in  the  American  squadron,  as  the  upper  sails  of  the 
English  vessels  were  seen  passing  along  the  land,  in  the  main 
lake,  on  their  way  to  double  Cumberland  Head.  The  enemy 
had  the  wind  rather  on  his  larboard  quarter.  The  Finch  led, 
succeeded  by  the  Confiancc,  Linncl,and  Chubb ;  while  liio  gun- 
boats, all  of  which,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Americans,  had  two 
latinc  sails,  followed  without  much  order,  keeping  just  clear  of 
the  shore. 

The  first  vessel  that  came  round  the  Head  was  a  sloop, 
which  is  said  to  have  carried  a  company  of  amateurs,  and 
which  took  no  part  in  the  engagement.  She  kept  well  to  lee- 
ward,  stood  down  towards  Crab  Island,  and  was  soon  un- 
observed. The  Finch  came  next,  nnd  soon  after  the  other 
large  vessels  of  the  enemy  opened  from  behind  the  land,  and 
hauled  up  to  the  wind  in  a  line  abreast,  lying-to  until  their 
galleys  could  join.  The  latter  passed  to  leeward,  and  formed 
in  the  same  manner  es  their  consorts.  The  two  squadrons 
were  now  in  plain  view  of  each  other,  distant  about  a  league. 
As  soon  as  the  gun-boats  were  in  their  stations,  and  the  dif- 
fei-ent  commanders  had  received  their  orders,  the  English 
filled,  with  their  starboard  tacks  aboard,  and  headed  in  towards 
the  American  vessels,  in  a  line  abreast,  the  Chubb  to  wind' 
wardi  and  the  Finch  to  leeward,  most  of  the  gun-boats,  how- 
ever, being  to -leeward  of  the  latter.  The  movements  of  the 
Finch  had  been  a  little  singular  ever  since  she  led  round  the 
Head,  for  she  is  said  not  to  have  hove-to,  but  to  have  run  off, 
half-way  to  Crab  Island  with  tlie  wind  abeam,  then  to  have 
tacked  and  got  into  her  station,  afler  the  other  vessels  had 
filled.  This  movement  whp  probably  intended  to  I'econnoitre, 
or  to  menace  the  rear  of  the  Americans.  The  enemy  was  now 
standing  in,  close-hauled,  the  Chubb  looking  well  to  windward 
of  the  Eagle,  the  vessel  that  lay  at  the  head  of  the  American 
line,  the  Linnet  laying  her  course  for  the  bows  of  the  same 
brig,  the  Confiancc  intending  to  fetch  far  enough  ahead  of  the 
Saratoga  to  lay  that  ship  athwart  hawse,  and  the  Finch,  with 
the  gun-boats,  standing  for  the  Ticondcroga  and  Preble. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  Americans  were  anchored  with 
springs.  But  not  content  with  this  customary  arrangement, 
Captain  M'Donough  had  laid  a  kedge  broad  off  on  each  bow 
of  the  Saratoga,  and  brought  their  hawsers  in,  upon  the  two 


f: 


I 


*illMMMi 


■MiMMMMUlMlMilWiW  1 


1814] 


NATAL   HISTORY. 


409 


under  water.    This 


quarters,  lotting  them  hang  in  bights, 
timely  precaution  gained  the  victory. 

As  the  enemy  filled,  the  American  vessels  sprung  their 
broadsides  to  bear,  and  u  few  minutes  were  passed  in  the  so- 
lemn and  silent  expectation,  that,  in  a  disciplined  ship,  precedes 
a  battle.     Suddenly  the  Eagle  discharged,  in  quick  succession, 
her  four  long  eightecns.     In  clearing  the  decks  of  the  Sara- 
toga, some  hen-coops  were  thrown  overboard,  and  the  poultry 
had  been  permitted  to  run  at  large.     Startled  by  tlie  reports 
of  th«  guns,  a  young  cock  flew  upon  a  gun-slide,  clapped  his 
wings  and  crowed.     At  this  animating  sound,  the  men  spon- 
tan«K)U8ly  gave  three  cheers.     This  little  occurrence  relieved 
the  usual  breathing  time  bciween<^reparation  and  the  combat, 
and  it  had  a  powerful  in/luence  on  the  known  tendencies  of  the 
seamen.     Still  Captain  M'Donough  did  not  give  the  order  to 
commence,  although  the  enemy's  galleys  now  opened ;  for  it 
was  apparent  that  the  fire  of  the  Eagle,  which  vessel  continued 
to  engage,  was  useless.     As  soon,  however,  as  it  was  seen 
that  her  shot  told.  Captain  M'Donough,  himself,  sighted  a  long 
twenty-four,  and  the  gun  was  fired.     This  shot  is  said  to  have 
struck  the  Confiance  near  the  outer  hawse-hole,  and  to  have 
passed  the  length  of  her  deck,  killing  and  wounding  several 
men,  and  carrying  away  the  wheel.     It  was  a  signal  for  all 
the  American  long  guns  to  open,  and  it  was  soon  seen  that  the 
English  commanding  ship,  in  particular,  was  suffering  heavily. 
Still  the  enemy  advanced,  and  in  the  most  gallant  manner, 
confident  if  he  could  get  the  desired  position,  that  the  great 
weight  of  the  Confiance  would  at  once  decide  the  fate  of  the 
aay.    But  he  had  miscalculated  his  own  powers  of  endurance. 
The  anchors  of  the  Confiance  were  hanging  by  the  stoppers, 
in  readiness  to  be  let  go,  and  the  larboard  bower  was  soon  cut 
away,  as  well  as  a  spare  anchor  in  the  larboard  fore-chains. 
In  short,  after  bearing  the  fire  of  the  American  vessels  as  long 
as  possible,  and  the  wind  Ixjginning  to  baffle.  Captain  Downie 
found  himself  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  anchoring  while  stiU 
at  the  distance  of  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  American 
line.     The  helm  was  pul  a-port,  the  ship  shot  into  the  wind, 
and  a  kedge  was  let  go,  while  the  vessel  took  a  sheer,  and 
brought  up  with  her  starboard  bower.     In  doing  the  latter, 
however,  the  kedge  was  fouled  and  became  of  no  use.     In 
coming-to,  the  halyards  were  let  run,  and  the  ship  hauled  up 
her  courses.     At  this  time  the  Linnet  and  Chubb  were  still 
standing  in,  farther  to  windward ;  and  the  former,  as  her  guns 


410 


NATAL    HIHTORT, 


[1814. 


bore,  fired  a  broadside  at  tho  Saratoga.  The  Linnet  soon  after 
anchored,  somowhat  nearer  than  the  Confinnco,  getting  a  very 
favourable  position  forward  of  tho  Eaglets  beam.  The  Chubb 
kept  under  way,'  intending,  if  poratbic,  to  rake  the  American 
line.  The  Finch  got  abreast  of  the  Ticonderoga,  under  her 
sweeps,  supported  by  the  gun-boats. 

The  English  vessels  came  to  in  very  handsome  style,  nor 
did  the  Confianco  fire  a  single  gun  until  secured ;  although  the 
American  line  was  now  engaged  with  all  its  force.  As  soon 
as  Captain  Downie  had  performed  this  duty,  in  a  seaman-like 
manner,  his  ship  appeared  a  sheet  of  fire,  discharging  all  her 
guns  ut  nearly  the  same  instant,  pointed  principally  at  the  Sa- 
ratofB.  The  offect  of  this  4)roadsido  was  terrible  in  tho  little 
ship  that  received  it.  Af\er  the  crash  had  subsided.  Captain 
M'Donough  saw  that  near  half  his  crew  was  on  the  deck,  for 
many  had  been  knocked  down  who  sustained  no  i-eal  injuries. 
It  is  supposed,  however,  that  about  40  men,  or  near  one-fifth 
of  her  complement,  were  killed  and  wounded  on  board  the 
Saratoga,  by  this  single  discharge.  The  hatches  had  been 
fasteae^  down,  as  usual,  but  the  bodies  so  cumbered  the  deck, 
that  it  was  found  necessary  to  remove  the  fastenings  and  to 
pass  hem  below.  The  effect  continued  but  a  moment,  when 
the  b\  ip  resumed  her  fire  as  gallantly  as  ever.  Among  the 
slain,  was  Mr.  Peter  Gamble,  the  first  lieutenant.  By  this 
early  loss,  but  one  officer  of  that  rank.  Acting  Lieutenant  La- 
vallett«,  was  left  in  the  Saratoga.  Shortly  after,  Captain 
Downit!,  the  English  commanding  officer,  fell  also. 

On  the  part  of  the  pnncipal  vessels,  the  battle  now  became 
a  steady,  animated,  but  as  guns  were  injured,  a  gradually  de- 
creasing  cannonade.  Still  the  character  of  the  battle  was 
relieved  by  several  little  incidents  that  merit  notice.  The 
Chubb,  while  manoeuvring  near  the  head  of  the  American  line, 
i-eceived  a  broadside  from  the  Eagle  that  crippled  her,  and  she 
drifted  down  between  the  opposing  vessels,  until  near  the  Sa- 
ratoga, which  ship  fired  a  shot  into  her,  and  she  immeQ.ately 
struck.  Mr.  Piatt,  one  of  the  Saratoga's  midshipmen,  was 
sent  with  a  boat  to  take  possession.  .This  young  officer  threw 
the  prire  a  line,  and  towed  her  down  astern  of  the  Saratoga, 
and  in-shore,  anchoring*  her  near  the  mouth  of  the  Saranac. 
This  little  su  'jcess  occurred  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after 
tjie  enemy  had  anchored,  and  was  considered  a  favourable 
Omen,  thou&h  all  well  knew  that  on  the  Confiance  alone  de- 
pended the^fate  of  the  day.     The  Chubb  had  suffered  ma- 


ItiH.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


411 


terially,  nearly  half  of  her  i)coplo  having  been  killed  and 
wounded. 

About  an  hour  later,  tho  Finch  was  aJHo  driven  out  ot  her 
berth,  by  tho  'Hconderogu ;  and  being  crippled,  she  drifted 
down  u|ton  Crab  Island  Shoal,  where,  receiving  a  shot  or  two 
from  tho  gun  mounted  in  the  battery,  she  struck,  and  was 
taken  possession  of  by  the  invalids  belonging  to  the  hospual. 
At  this  end  of  tho  line,  tho  British  galleys  early  made  several 
desperate  efforU  to  ^    le ;  and  soon  after  the  Finch  had  drilled 
uway,  they  forced  the  Preble  out  of  the  American  line,  that 
vessel  cutting  her  cable,  and  shifting  her  anchorage  to  a  sta- 
tion considerably  in-shore,  where  she  was  of  no  more  service 
throughoi't  tho  day..    The  rear  of  the  American  line  was  ccr- 
tainly  its  weakest  point ;  and  having  compelled  the  little  Frebh 
to  retreat,  the  enemy's  galleys  were  emboldened  to  renew  their 
eflbrts  against  the  vessel  ahead  of  her,  which  was  the  Ticon- 
deroga.     This  schooner  was  bettor  able  to  resist  them,  and  she 
was  very  nobly  fought.     Her  spirited  commander.  Lieutenant 
Commandant  Cassin,  walked  thetaffrail,  where  he  could  watch 
tho  movements  of  the  enemy's  galleys,  amidst  showers  of  can- 
ister and  grape,  directing  discharges  of  bugs  of  musket-balls, 
and  other  light  missiles,  effectually  keeping  the  British  at  bay. 
Several  times  the  English  galleys,  of  which  many  were  very 
gallantly  fought,  closed  quite  near,  with  an  intent  to  board ; 
but  the  great  steadiness  on  board  the  Ticonderoga  beat  them 
back,  and  completely  covered  the  rear  of  the  line  for  the  le- 
nainder  of  the  day.     So  desperate  were  some  of  the  assaults, 
notwithstanding,  that  the  galleys  have  been  described  as  seve- 
ral  times  getting  nearly  within  a  boat-hook's  length  of  the 
schooner,  and  their  people  as  rising  from  the  sweeps  in  readi- 
ness  to  spring.  . 

While  these  reverses  and  successes  were  occurring  in  the 
rear  of  the  two  lines,  the  Americans  were  suffering  heavily  at 
the  other  extremity.  The  Linnet  had  got  a  very  commanding 
position,  and  she  was  admirably  fought;  while  the  Eagle, 
which  received  all  hor  fire,  and  part  of  that  of  the  Confiancc, 
having  lost  her  fp'ings,  found  herself  so  situated,  as  not  to  be 
able  to  bring  ht.  v  <'£ly  to  bear  on  either  of  the  enemy's 
vessels.  Capta;  i  b  -lay  had  run  his  topsaiUyaHs,  with  the 
sails  stopped,  t'.  thf  last-heads,  previously  to  cng»c>ng.  «?« 
he  now  cut  his  <xl.L\  sheeted  home  his  topsails,  cast  the  brig, 
and  running  down,  anchored  by  the  stern,  between  the  Saru- 
toga  and  'I'icoiiderogn,  necessarily  a  little  in-shore  oi  both. 


412 


NAVAI.    HIBTORY. 


[1614. 


Here  he  opened  uftysih,  und  with  hotter  cftectjon  the  CoDfionce 
nnd  gnllityH,  UHing  im  Inrliourd  guns.  Out  this  movement  left 
tho  Saratoga  cxpitM-d  to  nearly  tho  whole  tiro  of  the  Linnet, 
which  brig  now  sprung  hov  broudaido  in  a  manner  to  rake  the 
Amoricau  ship  en  her  bow;:). 

Shortly  uller  this  :>n;,')rtunt  change  had  occurred  at  the 
head  of  the  liiiCB,  the  lirf  of  tho  two  8hii)8  bcgon  materiaiiy  to 
lessen,  >!>ii  gun  after  gun  Iccaino  disabled ;  the  Saratoga,  in 
partkuiar,  having  had  all  her  long  pieties  rendered  uselens  by 
iihol,  whitft  most  of  tho  carronades  were  dismounted,  cither  in 
tin;  same  >iaimor,  or  in  conscquenco  of  a  dis])Osition  in  the 
men  to  overcha,'  i-  them.  At  length  but  a  single  cnrronado 
remained  ia  thfe  .i'l.iboard  battedes.'and  on  firing  it, tho  naveU 
bolt  broke,  the  gun  flew  olf  the  carriage,  and  it  actually  fell 
down  the  main  hatch.  By  thia  accident,  the  American  com- 
manding vessel  was  Icfl  in  the  middle  of  tho  battle,  without  a 
single  available  gun.  Nothing  remained,  but  to  make  an  im« 
mediate  attempt  to  wind  the  ship. 

The  stream  anchor  suspended  astern,  was  let  go  according- 
ly. Tho  men  then  clapped  on  the  hawser  that  led  to  the  star- 
board quarter,  and  brought  the  ship's  stern  up  over  the  kedge ; 
but  hero  she  hung,  there  not  being  sufficient  wind,  or  current, 
to  force  her  bows  round.  A  line  had  been  bent  to  a  bight  in 
the  stream  cable,  with  a  view  to  help  wind  the  ship,  and  she 
now  rode  by  the  kedge  and  this  lino,  with  her  stern  under  the 
raking  broadside  of  the  Linnet,  which  brig  kept  up  a  steady 
and  weU-dircclcd  fire.  Tho  larboard  batteries  having  been 
oianned  and  got  ready,  Captain  M'Dooough  ordered  all  the 
men  from  the  guns,  whertj  they  were  uselessly  suffering,  telling 
them  to  go  forward.  By  rov'sing  on  the  line,  the  ship  was  at 
length  got  so  far  round,  that  the  aftermost  gun  would  bear  on  the 
Confiance,  when  it  was  instantly  manned,  and  began  to  play. 
The  next  gun  was  used  in  the  same  mnnncr,  but  it  was  soon 
apparent  that  the  ship  could  be  ^t  no  farther  round,  for  she 
was  now  nearly  end-on  to  the  wmd.  At  this  critical  moment, 
Mr.  Brum,  the  muster,  bethought  him  of  the  hawser  that  had 
led  to  the  larboard  quarter.  It  was  got  forward  under  the 
bows,  and  passed  all  to  the  starboard  quarter,  when  the  ship's 
stern  was  immediately  sprung  to  the  westward,  so  as  to  bring 
all  her  larboard  guns  to  bear  on  the  English  ship,  with  fatal 
effect. 

As  soon  as  the  preparations  were  made  to  wind  the  Sara- 
toga, the  Confiance  ottempted  to  perform  the  same  evolution. 


18U.J 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


413 


in 


Her  springs  wcro  hnuled  on,  but  they  merely  forced  Ur  ship 
ahead,  and  having  borno  the  fresh  broudsidoot  the  Atr.'  ncani, 
until  .ho  had  scarcely  a  gun  with  which  t„  return  [^o  -'';  jj 
faihng  in  all  her  effort-  to  get  round,  about  two  hour,  .nd  a 
Quarter  after  the  co.ninenccment  of  tho  action,  her  coir'R'ttnd- 
L  officer  lowered  his  flag.  By  hauling  again  upon  tia  «Uir. 
b^ti  hawser,  the  Saratogu'a  brondsKJe  was  immodiatel;  ;n>rung 
to  boar  on  tho  Linnet,  w^ich  brig  strucit  about  fitken  ^m^ 
after  her  consort.  Tho  enemy's  galleys  bad  been  dr.v:;n  buck, 
nearly  or  quite  half  a  mile,  and  they  lay  irregularly  ^f^'^ 
and  sotting  to  leeward,  keeping  up  a  desultory  firing.  .-» «  «>on 
as  thev  found  that  tho  large  vessels  had  submitted,  thf  >  .eased 
the  combat,  and  lowered  their  colours.  At  this  proud « -onienN 
it  is  believed,  on  authority  entitled  to  the  highest  respc  t,  there 
was  not  a  single  English  ensign,  out  of  sixteen  or  sevsnitoen, 
that  had  so  lately  been  flying,  left  abroad  m  he  bay 

In  this  long  and  bloody  conflict,  the  Saratoga  hao  .dmen 
killed,  and  29  wounded,  or  more  than  a  fourth  of  all  oti  board 
her:  the  Eagle  13  killed,  and  20  wounded,  whicl  w  s  bus- 
tain  ng  a  loss  in  nearly  an  equal  proportion ;  the  T»co.  icroga 
6  kill«l,  and  6  wounded ;  the  Preble  2  killed ;  whae  r  board 
the  10  galleys,  only  8  wet«  killed,  and  8  wounde-?.  The 
Saratoga  was  hulled  fifty-five  times,  pnnc.pally  by  twenty 
four-pwind  shot ;  and  the  Eagle,  thirty-nine  t-mw. 

AcWding  to  the  report  of  Captain  Pring,  of  tho  L'"";!' 
dated  on  the  12th  of  September,  the  Confiauce  lo«t  41  killed, 
and  40  wounded.     It  was  admitted,  hovovcr,  that  no  good 
opportunity  had  then  existed  to  ascertain  t,te  tt^l^^M^s^^    At  a 
later  day.  the  English  themselves  enumerated  -^f  *'f  n««\» 
83      ThU  would  make  the  total  loss  of  that  ship  124;  but 
even  this  number  is  supposed  to  be  materially  short  of  the  truth. 
The  Linnet  is  reported  to  have  had  10  killed,  and  14  wounded. 
This  low  is  air  believed  to  be  considerably  below  the  fact. 
The  Chubb  had  6  killed,  and  10  wounded.     The  Finch  waa 
roported  by  the  enemy,  to  have  had  but  2  men  wounded.    No 
ASericnn  official  report  of  the  casualties  in  the  Eng''«hve««j8 
has  been  published ;  but  by  an  estimate  made  on  the  brat  data 
that  couia  be  found,  the  Linnet  was  thought  to  have  lost  60 
men,?nd  the  two  smaller  vessels  taken,  aboOt  30  oetween 
them.     No  account  whatever  has  been  published  of  the  casual- 
ties on  board  tlie  English  galleys,  though  the  slaughter  in  them 
is  believed  to  have  been  very  heavy. 
As  soon  aa  the  Linnet  struck,  a  lieutenant  was  sent  to  taKe 

S6» 


■n 


414 


MATAL     HISTORY 


[1614. 


poaMnion  of  tho  Confiance.  Bad  as  wai  tho  lituation  of  the 
Haretoga,  that  of  this  prise  wm  mur-h  worwi,  Mho  had  been 
hulleu  105  timoa ;  had  probably  near,  if  not  quite,  half  her 
people  killed  aod  wouudod ;  and  thii  formidnblo  floating  bat- 
tery WB»  reduced  to  hftlplcsit  imiwtency. 

Alt  tho  boarding  oflic<}r  wa8  putttting  along  tho  deck  of  tho 
prise,  he  accidentally  ran  asainst  a  lock-«itring,  nnd  fired  ono 
of  the  Confiance'a  atarboard  ffuns.  Up  to  thin  moment,  the 
Eingiith  snlloya  had  been  alowTy  driAing  to  tueward,  with  their 
cobura  down,  appartmtly  waiting  to  be  taken  poasoosion  of  { 
but  at  the  discharge  uf  this  gun,'  which  may  have  been  under* 
stood  as  a  signal,  ono  or  two  of  them  began  to  move  slowly 
off,  and  soon  after  the  others  followed,  pulling  but  a  very  few 
sweeps.  It  is  not  known  that  one  of  them  hoisted  her  ensign. 
Captain  M'Donough  made  a  signal  for  th(^  American  galleys 
to  follow,  but  it  was  disooverod  that  their  men  were  wanted 
at  tho  pumpa  of  some  of  the  larger  vessels,  to  keep  them  from 
sinking,  the  water  being  Ibund  over  tho  berlh-deck  of  tho  Lin- 
net: aiid  tho  signal  was  revoked.  As  thcrn  was  not  a  most 
that  K^culd  bear  any  canvass  among  all  the  larger  vessels,  the 
Eugliitii  galleys  escaped,  though  thoy  wen!  off  slowly  and  ir« 
regularly,  as  if  distrusting  their  own  liberty. 

Captain  M'Donough  applauded  the  conduct  of  all  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Saratoga.  Mr.  Gamblo  died  at  his  post,  fighting 
bravely ;  Mr.  Lavalletto,  tho  only  lieutenant  left,  displayed  the 
cool  discretion  that  marks  tho  character  of  this  highly  respect- 
able and  firm  officer ;  and  Mr.  Brum,  the  master,  who  was  en- 
trusted with  the  important  duty  of  winding  the  ship,  never  lost 
his  self-possession  for  an  instant.  Captain  Henley  praised  the 
conduct  of  his  officers,  as  did  Lieutenant  Commandant  Cassin. 
The  galleys  behaved  very  unequally ;  but  the  Borer,  Mr.  Con- 
over  ;♦  Netley,  Mr.  Breese  ;t  one  under  the  orders  of  Mr. 
Robins,  a  nuister,  and  one  or  two  more,  were  considered  to 
have  been  v^ry  gallantly  handled. 

There  waa  a  common  feeling  of  admiration  at  the  manner 
m  which  the  Ticonderoffa,  Lieutenant  Commandant  Caasin, 
defended  the  rear  of  the  line,  and  at  the  noble  conduct  of  all 
on  board  her. 

The  Saratoga  was  twice  on  fire  by  hot  shot  thrown  from 
the  Confiance,  her  spanker  having  been  nearly  consumed.  No 
battery  from  the  American  shore,  with  the  exception  of  the 


*  Now  Comnwnder  Cooovsr. 


t  Now  Cspt.  Brssss. 


1114} 


NAVAL   HISTORT. 


415 


gun  or  iwo  fired  ul  llio  I'irich  from  Crab  Maml,  look  any  |>«rt 
U)  th«  naval  encounter ;  nor  could  uny,  wilhout  nulungoring 
the  American  vessels  equally  wUh  ih«  uniMny.  hidwd  th« 
distance  ruiidum  it  quostionablo  whelhor  ihot  would  hav« 
rcoched  with  tiffoct,  as  Captain  M'Donough  hod  anchored  far 
olf  tho  land,  in  order  to  compel  the  enemy  to  come  within 
range  of  his  iihort  tfuna. 

The  AnKiricana  (ound  u  lurnaco  on  board  tho  CouAttn<:«, 
with  eight  or  ten  hculed  shot  in  it,  though  the  fact  is  not  stated 
with  any  view  to  attribute  it  to  the  enemy  a«  a  fault.  It  was 
an  advantage  that  \w  possessi'd,  most  probably,  in  coaacquence 
of  the  prcstinoo  of  a  party  of  artilUiristti. 

Captain    M'Donough,  who   wo«   alrt;ady   very   favourably 
known  to  the  service  for  hia  personal  intrepidity,   )btained  A 
vast  acceasion  of  reputation  by  the  results  of  this  day.     Ilia 
dispositions  for  receiving  the  attacks,  w»re  highly  judicious  and 
seaman-like.     By  the  manner  in  whicli  he  anchored  his  vca- 
sols.  with  tho  shoal  so  noiir  the  nmr  of  his  line  as  to  cover 
that  extremity,  ond  the  land  of  Cumberland  Head  so  near  hi* 
broadside  as  necessarily  to  bring  tho  enemy  w.thin  n^nch  of 
his  short  guns,  he  made  all  his  force  coraplrtely  available. 
Tl*e  English  were  not  nearenoup;h,  pwrhufw,  to  give  tocarron- 
aiks  their  fuji  eflect ;  but  this  disadvantage  was  unavoidable, 
the  ansailiii^  party  having,  of  cx)ur8e,  a  choice  in  the  distance. 
All  tho«  could  be  obtointxl,  under  the  circumstances,  appear* 
to  have  been  secured,  and  the  result  proved  th^  wisdom  ()f  the 
actual  arrangement.     The  personal   deportment  of  CapUuft 
M'Donough  in  this  engagement,  liike  that  of  Captain  Ferry 
in  tho  battle  of  Lake  Erie,  was  thit  subject  of  general  admim> 
tion  in  his  little  squadron.     His  coolness  was  undinturbed 
throughout  all  the  trying  scenes  on  board  his  own  ship,  ond 
although  lying  against  a  vessel  of  double  the  force,  and  nearly 
double  the  tonnage  of  the  Saratoga,  ho  met  and  resisted  her 
attack  with  a  constancy  that  seemed  to  set  ilefeot  at  defiance. 
The  winding  of  tho  Saratosa,  under  such  circumstances,  ox- 
posed  as  she  was  to  the  raking  broadsides  of  the  Confiance 
and  Linnet,  especially  the  latter,  was  a  bold,  seaman-like,  and 
masterly  measure,  that  required  unusual  decision  and  fortitude 
to  imagine  ond  execute.     Most  men  would  hav«  believed  that, 
without  a  single  gun  on  tho  side  engaged,  a  fourth  of  their  peo- 
ple cut  down,  and  their  ship  a  wreck,  enough  injury  had  been 
r«oeived  to  justify  submission ;  but  Captain  M'Donough  found 


4U 


NATAL     HIITORV* 


[1114. 


the  iwan«  to  •©cure  a  victory  In  the  dwiperalo  condition  of  hia 
own  v«Mi»M!l, 

Th«i  (fcporlincni  of  Linutonant  Commandant  Caaain*  waa 
•iao  lh«  ■ul)j<!ot  of  gtmnl  npplauae in  the  American  aqiiadron. 

Although  many  of  th«  AnM-riian  oflHwrn  wtero  woundid,  only 
two  thnt  bcloii«t  «l  t<i  lh«!  ((unrtertkwk  wci^>  kilM.  Tli.  «a  men 
Mr.  (laml»l«sth«t  first  iicuttnunt  of  lhoyt»rat»«a,nr  t  Mi.atana- 
bury,  tilt)  first  lieutenant  of  the  Ticondi^ngu.f  Mr  S  iiuli.l  •» 
very  voluabi«  oflficor,  and  tht>  fiml  lieutoiiani  of  llw  Eafl«,  re- 
ccivod  a  itevoro  wound,  but  relumed  to  hia  quartora  di.ring  the 
action.  On  llm  part  of  the  onnmy,  l>»«idc»  Oaptain  Duwnie, 
aevoral  olIktrM  woro  kitirsl,  nnd  thnio  or  four  wnr«  wounded. 

Captain  M'Donough,  be«icloa  iheuaual  imnlnl  from  ( 'ongreaa, 
and  varioua  complimenta  and  gifta  from  difliiront  itaCoa  and 

•  Now  Commodora  CaMin. 

t  The  mwinor  In  whioti  Mr.  Uambia  mot  hl«  dMlb,  hti  twen  mi  (Ion. 
fd.  Mr.  HUnibury  tuddeoly  diMppMrw!  (hmi  the  bulwaiki  fcrward, 
whila  .uperinlending  wumt  duty  with  Ihs  tptingt.  Two  d«yt  after  lh« 
motion,  hu  twdy  roae  to  Iho  iurftoe  of  Iho  wa'er,  near  th«  \^tm\  lo  whto^ 
h«  had  belonfml,  and  it  waa  fijund  that  it  had  tmn  cul  in  iwo  by  a  round 
•hot  Both  tlieio  gentloinnn  ahowed  graal  ooolncaa  nnd  »\Mi,  UBtil  thay 
ftll.  Many  oflic«raw*r«lin(jclicd  down  in  tbaenffaK.  «nl,  without  ba»lnf 
bliMid  drawn.  At  one  moroont,  Ihem  wsa  a  ory  In  the  Harat-.g  n  (hat  Cap. 
Uin  M'Donough,  or  aa  h«  waa  uaually  oalW,  the  oommodoi  <•  waa  killed 
Ha  waa  thrown  on  hla  Ikoo,  on  lh«i  quarter  dwk,  neatly  If  m*  quit*  aenae- 
leaa,  and  it  waa  two  or  three  minulea  Nfbffl  be  oame  to  hia  roo«ai«otk». 
He  pointed  u  fkvourite  f  un  moat  of  the  action,  and  while  alaridinf  in  the 
mid.llo  of  the  de«k  bending  hia  body  to  aitht  it,  a  ahot  bad  cut  in  two  the 
•pankor.boom,  letting  Uie  apar  fkit  on  hia  beok,  •  Mow  that  migtil  eaaily 
have  proved  IkuL  A  few  roinutea  after  thU  aocldani,  tJio  cry  that  the 
commodore  waa  killed  waa  beard  again.  Thia  time,  Captain  M^Uonough 
waa  lying  on  the  ofT^aide  of  the  deck,  between  two  ot  th*  gune,  oorered 
with  blood,  and  again  nearly  aeneeleae.  A  abot  had  driven  the  bead  of 
the  captain  of  hia  (kfourlta  gun  In  upon  hin^  and  kn  xjkcd  him  into  Iha 
•cuppera.  Mr.  Brum  the  maater,  •  veaenblo  oM  aeaman,  while  winding 
the  ahip,  had  a  large  aplinter  driven  ao  near  hie  body,  m  aotually  to  rtrip 
off  hia  ok>thea.  For  a  minute  he  waa  though'  to  be  deed,  but,  on  gaining 
bia  feet,  he  made  an  apron  of  hia  pocket  bandkertsblef,  uui  «»oUv  went  to 
work  again  witli  the  apringa !  A  few  montha  later  thie  veteran  died,  aa  la 
thought  of  the  injury.  Mr.  lAvalletto  bad  a  ahot-bo»  M  wblob  ha  waa 
atanding,  knocked  Aom  under  hia  Iket,  and  be  too,  waa  onoe  knocked 
down  by  the  lioad  of  a  aeaman.  He  alau  reeeived  •  aavere  eplinter  wounci, 
though  not  reported.  In  abort,  very  %w  eioaped  altogetbar  j  and  in  Ibla 
deaperate  fight,  it  appenrato  have  bean  agreed  on  both  aMee,  tooall  no  man 
wounded  wlw  could  keep  out  of  the  boepitaL  Many  who  were  not  la< 
eluded  among  tho  wounded,  foel  the  eflkote  of  their  huita  to  tbia  day.  It 
i»  «»id.  that  aoaiecly  an  individual  aaMpad  oa  board  of  Miliar  thaOaaAaaaa 
or  Saratoga,  without  aome  injury. 

t  Now  Captda  Smith. 


MttiHiiiaai 


mil 


mamm 


Mlil 


NAtAL    HIHTOEY. 


417 


(owM,  mtu  pro*  '<hI  for  hii  •Br*ic«i.  ('«pt«in  I!*(nl«y  bI«o 
roceiviHl  n  mcdii  Thn  legitlaluw  of  Vomnont  |ir«>«*rHed  the 
formrr  wi;h  a  sjm.'I  cstatn  on  Cumlser'.aiMl  UmiI,  whi'h  over- 
lookwl  Iho  iiwsnfl  of  hiii  lrium|>h.  Thf  ofRc^n  nn«l  rwwii  met 
with  the  ciwtomar)'  ncknowUHlnnfwnlii,  nml  th«  country  j;e. 
nernlly  placed  th<  victory  by  th«  fiiln of  thm  of  I^kn  Krie.  In 
the  navy,  vi^hicK  m  better  qunlified  to  fintcr  into  ju«t  e«timatei 
of  force,  •nd  all  the  other  ^ircumiiiiincea  that  enhance  the  m^ 
ritn  of  imiilicul  eiploitu,  thf*  l«ttl«  I"  Pl«(l«^►llrg  Hny  i»  juatljr 
rankuxi  otiK>ng  \\w  vnry  highfat  of  its  claintii  to  glnry. 

The  ftonaon'ifincmi  of  thi«  victory  were  iminodiato  nnd  irn. 
portant.  During  the  action,  Sir  lleorgc  Pr«voat  had  tkir- 
miahed  iiharply  in  front  of  the  American  worka,  and  waa  bufjr 
In  making  dflmomitrntionH  for  a  mom  nflrioua  attack.  Aa  aoon, 
howovor,  B»  tlie  falo  of  th«  UriJish  w]uadr«n  wm  Mcertained, 
he  made  a  precipitate  and  unmilitary  r»itrpal,  abandoning  much 
of  hia  heavy  artillery,  atorea,  and  nunpii'w,  and  from  that  mo- 
ment  to  the  end  of  the  w«r,  the  northern  frontier  waa  cleared 
of  the  enemy. 


CHAPTER  XLVH. 


Arm  "*«  aucceaa  of  Captain  Perry  on  Lake  Eric,  the  En- 
gliah  made  no  aeriout  effort  to  recover  the  aacendoncy  on  the 
upper  watera.  During  the  winter  of  1818-14,  they  are  be- 
lieved to  have  contemplated  an  attempt  ngninst  a  portion  of  the 
American  veaaela,  which  wore  lying  in  Put-in  Bay,  but  the  en- 
terpriie  waa  abandoned.  When  Comfjjjdon  Sinclair  hoisted 
hia  pennant,  aa  commander  on  thia  ilation,  an  expedition  sailed 
against  Michilinmckinac,  which  waa  repulaed.  Ho  made  aomo 
capturea  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  Northweat  Company,  blew 
up  a  block-house  in  tho  Nautauwassauga,  and  compelled  the 
enemy  to  destroy  a  schooner,  called  the  'Nancy,  commanded 
by  Lieutenant  Worsley. 

While  theae  raovemcnta  were  in  tho  course  of  occurrence  on 
Lakea  Superior  and  Huron,  several  of  tho  aroall  veaeels  were 
kept  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Erie,  to  co-operate  with  the  army  then 
beaieeed  in  the  fort  of  tho  same  name.    On  the  night  of  the 

80 


416 


NAVAL    IIHTOtY. 


IIII4. 


19th  of  Augu.1.  lh«Boimrt,(>Hl«.  iiul  Porrtipiw.  nil  of  whwtb 
wi^ra  umlcf  lieuUiiwint  Conklln, ^n  mMhorcd  ju»J  at  llw  wt- 
U  „f  iha  laka,  t«  over  th«  bft  flank  of  «»*•  Amencan  work*. 
Tin  •OMny  bn)ugM  up  a  |«rty  of  mmnwn  from  bi-low,  wilh  « 
Vkw  to  cut  them  <>«!",  nin!  «b<»ul  mi.IiiiKht  h.-  nm.W  tn  aliiK  k, 
M^  C^pUin  Dubba,  in  lis  or  Bight  li«ui»,  m'wt  of  which  wcw 
krm  h*tU)«ux.  The  Ohio  »nt\  Huimtn  w«re  nuri.ri«.>.l,  the 
iMt  h*t<t>|i  r*|»tur««l  wilhtHit  any  rtNii«t«n<:«»,  but  »h«'  IN.r.  upiiw 
Ukinu  th«  nlnrm.  wi.ily  cin>ct.d  her  oi«-fl(w.  TIm)  oiK'iny 
dnftwldown  Uw  r«|H.lii  with  their  two  priwHi.  «ind  wKvan^  them 

bslow. 

In  thb  •udden  «nd  handjKiroo  otlkir,  th«  Am«)ric«n«  hnd  I 
man  killed  and  10  wounded.  Tha  enemy  Uiat  about  the  «arne 
numb.)r.  by  the  r««.t«n«J  on  (ward  thfl  Ohio,  among  whom 
was  Li.3Utoatinl  Hadolitre,  of  the  N«tl.iy,  alain.  I  ho  I  orcu- 
pine  had  no  part  in  ibe  artion.  I1ii»  lurpri-e  waa  tlw  rcault 
offlxcoM  of  oonfldnnoe,  it  bcin«  th..ught  that  tho  «iwiny  had 
BO  for«i  on  Uke  Rr»  with  which  to  make  auch  an  attack. 
The  mnniwr  in  which  the  men  and  boat*  were  brt)ughi  up  from 
Uk«  Ontario,  for  Ihia  purpoa«,  and  th«  ncatneaa  with  which 
(he  cnterpriae  woa  e«ocutod,   rofleclud   great  credit  on   the 

New  WM  Ihia  the  only  «urx3e««ftjl  altompt  of  the  sanrw  nnture, 
made  by  the  Kngliah  on  the  upper  lakes,  during  thin  ijoaaon. 
Li.)ut.mant  Womloy,  the  <»fficer  who  commundod  the  achfjoncr 
deatroyml  by  Commodore  Sinclair,  had  cacanod  with  all   hta 
men,  and  obtaining  a  prty  of  .oldiera  Cwm  Michilimackinac, 
•nd  ■  •troDg  body  of  Indiana,  he  plannwl  a  Buri>ri»«*  upon  tlip 
Tigreaa  and  Scorpion,  two  achoonom  that  ha.!  U»en  Ir^ft  in 
I  Ake  Huron  after  the  repulao  on  the  port  juat  mentioned.     I  he 
Tign-M  moiinto.1  h  twenty -four,  had  a  crew  of  38  n)en,oflicera 
includtHi,  and  wan  comnmndcl  by  Mr,  Champlin.     She  waa 
lying  at  St.  Jow^phV,  on  the  night  <>■(  the  3d  of  Soptomber, 
when  Mr.  Woraley  made  hia  attack  io  five  largn  boots,  one  of 
which  mounted  •  aii,  and  anothet  a  threo-poundor,  accompa- 
nied by  nineteen  canoea,  containing  more  than  aOO  men.     The 
night  waa  so  dark  that  the  enemy  got  very  near  before  they 
were  diicov«red,  but  Mr.  Champlin*  and  his  officora  made  a 
very  gallant  reaistance.     The  achoooncr  waa   not  cnptured 
until  all  her  oflkera  hwi  been  ahot  down.    The  gun«  of  the 
•nemy  were  tmnaftawd  to  the  Tigwea,  and  while  aha  atiU  coo- 

•  Now  Comnandar  CbarapUo. 


I  of  whkth 
nt  (ltd  out- 
«n  work*. 
)w,  with  • 
III!  atiiK-k, 
»hich  were 
priwxit  tho 
I'ortupitMi 
\m  ciwiny 
Ruii<<i  (hem 

»n«  hnd  1 
It  tlin  »arno 
long  whom 
I'ho  Porcu. 

thfl  reiiult 
(tiKiiny  hnd 

an  tittack. 
[hi  up  from 
with  which 
dit  on  the 

(infjfl  niituro, 
hill  Ncnson. 
lie  nchooner 
vith  all  his 
limackinac, 
m:  upon  tlip 
li«!cn  Icfl  in 
ioiiud.  Th*" 
uen,  oflicorn 
I.     8ho  was 

S<>plpmber, 
imts,  ono  of 
ir,  accompa- 

men.     Thn 

heCote  they 
Mirs  made  a 
lot  cnptiired 

guns  of  the 
the  still  con- 


_..i...iiii  rill   I  II .  "f  .-T™**^*^*" 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.0 


1.1 


1.25 


Hi,  f2»    |25 
2.2 


1.4 


2.0 

1.6 


6" 


V] 


7] 


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'"^J 


V  ^ 


c 


^ 


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Sdeaces 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(7U)S72-'CS03 


- w 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVl/iCMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IVlicroreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  do  microreproductions  historlques 


^ 


1614.] 


NATAL    HIiTOET. 


419 


dnufd  in  her  berth,  the  evening  of  the  next  day,  the  Scorpion, 
Lieutenant  Turner,  which  had  been  cruising,  camo  in  and  an- 
chored about  five  mile*  rrom  her.  Neither  veaael  had  sif;* 
naU,  and  there  waa  no  attempt  to  communicate  that  night. 
The  next  morning,  at  daylight,  the  Tigress  was  seen  standiDg 
down  towards  the  Scorpion,  with  American  colours  flying,  and 
there  not  being  the  slightest  apparent  motive  to  suspect  her 
change  of  character,  slw  was  permitttcd  to  come  alongside, 
when  she  fired  all  her  guns,  ran  the  Scorpion  aboard,  and 
carried  her  without  difficulty.  This  surprise  was  wholly 
attributed  to  the  want  of  signals,  and  Mr.  Turner  was  honour- 
ably acquitted  for  the  loss  of  his  vessels.  In  carrying  the 
Tigresa,  the  enemy  had  a  lieutenant  and  2  men  killod,  and  7 
men  wounded.  On  board  the  Tigreaa  8  men  were  killed,  and 
all  the  officers  and  8  seamen  were  wounded.  The  Scorpion, 
being  surprised,  made  but  a  trifling  resistance. 

These  little  captures,  which  were  very  creditable  to  the 
enterprise  of  the  enemy,  terminated  the  war  on  the  upper  lakes, 
the  vessels  being  shortly  after  laid  up.  During  the  winter  of 
1814-15  both  belligerents  were  building,  the  enemy  having 
laid  down  a  second  two*decker  at  Kinsston,  while  the  Amen- 
cans  prepared  to  build  two  at  the  Harbour.  Mr.  Eckford 
engaged  to  put  into  the  water  two  ships,  to  carry  102  guns 
each,  within  sixty  days  from  the  time  be  commenced,  the  tim- 
ber then  standing  in  the  forest.  The  order  was  given,  and 
the  work  commenced  in  January.  The  news  that  a  treaty  of 
peace  had  been  signed,  was  received  when  the  work  on  one  of 
these  vessels,  called  the  New  Orleans,  had  been  commenced 
but  twenty-nine  days.  She  was  then  nearly  planked  in,  and 
it  was  thought  would  have  been  in  the  water  in  twenty-seven 
days  more.  The  second  vessel  was  but  little  behind  her,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  that  Commodore  Chauncey  would  have  taken 
the  lake,  as  soon  as  the  navigation  opened,  with  a  force  con- 
sisting of  2  sail  of  the  line,  2  frigates,  2  corvettes,  4  brigs,  and 
as  many  small  craft  as  the  service  could  possibly  have  required. 
As  the  enemy  had  received  the  frames  of  one  or  two  frigates 
from  England,  and  had  already  begun  to  set  them  up,  it  if 
probable  that  a  frigate  would  have  been  added  to  thii  (ok% 
by  building  her  of  the  timber  found  too  small  for  the  heavier 
shiM.  t 

The  peace  put  a  stop  to  the  strife  in  shin-buUding ,  and  ter- 
BUDated  the  war  on  the  lakes.  In  this  inland  contest,  while 
tha  eoemy  had  been  active,  bold,  and  full  of  reaouroes,  impar* 


420 


IfATAI.     HllTOftT. 


(1814. 


1 


\i 


V 


twl  judges  must  award  ihe  palm  to  the  Amencana.  On  the 
upper  lakea  and  oo  Cbamplain,  the  English  had  sought  gene- 
ral actions,  and  decifiiv9  victories  placed  the  repuUio  in  nearly 
undisputed  command  of  thoee  waters.  The  important  results 
that  had  been  expected,  Ailly  rewarded  this  success.  On  Lake 
Ontario,  the  English  pursued  a  diflbrent  policy,  cautiously 
avoiding  any  oonfliot  that  might  prove  final,  unless  under  cir- 
cumstances that  would  ensure  victory. 

On  Lake  Champlain  the  ebemy  captured  in  the  course  of 
the  war,  the  Eag^  and  Growler,  by  means  of  their  army. 
These  two  vessels  were  subsequently  retaken,  under  the  names 
of  the  Chubb  and  the  Finch,  and  ths  whde  English  force  was 
defeated.    On  Lake  Erie,  the  success  of  the  enemy  was  limited 
to  the  surprise  of  the  four  schooners  mentioned  in  this  chapter ; 
while  they  lost  equally  by  surprise,  the  Detroit  and  Caledonia, 
their  whole  squadron  is  action,  and  a  schooner  on  Lake  Huron 
Uown  up.    On  Lake  Ontario,  the  suoceos  of  the  enemy  was 
limited  to  the  capture  of  the  Julia  and  Growler,  in  the  afliur 
of  the  10th  of  August,  and  the  re-capture  of  the  latter  vessel 
at  OewMo.    On  no  other  occasion,  with  the  exception  of  the 
gig  of  Mr.  Gregory,  and  one  boat  carrying  a  gun  and  two 
cablM,  did  any  man,  or  thing,  belonging  to  the  navy  fall  mto 
hio  hands.    Ho  made  one  exceedingly  unapotent  attack  on  the 
Harbour,  (previously  to  the  arrival  of  Commodore  Yeo,)  was 
beaten  in  a  subsequent  attempt  on  the  same  place,  succeeded 
in  taking  Osweco,  and  committed  some  ravages  at  Sodus,  and 
at  the  mouth  of  tha  Genesee.    For  a  few  days  be  also  co-ope- 
rated with  his  army.    Oa  the  part  of  the  Americans,  a  spirited 
attack  was  made  on  Kingston  in  1812 ;  York  was  twioe  cap- 
turad  in  1818,  as  was  Fort  Gf  orge  once ;  a  brig  was  brought 
<eff  from  York,  and  a  vessel  of  SO  guns  burned  at  tha  same 
place ;  another  of  14  guns  at  Presque  Isle ;  a  third  was  driven 
ashore,  and  tdown  up,  to  the  westward  of  Niagara;  six  gun- 
[vessels  and  time  sun-boats,  and  nany  nnaller  craft  were  cap- 
lufod ;  and<  at  dUerent  timea,  two  oaptmnt,  ttwny  other  offi- 
«ara,  and'  several  hundred  seamen  and  marinee  were  tahen. 
j:higsto»  was  often  long  and  dosdy  Uockaded,  and,  «rith  short 
and  few  exceptions,  the  Americaaa  had  the  command  of  the 
teke.    The  greater  age  <ff  the  English  firontier,  as  a  settled 
country,  gave  the  enemy  material  advantages,  of  which  he 
sliUy  availed  himself. 

No  officer  of  the  American  navy  ever  filled  a  station  of  the 
fcsponsibility  and  imp(»tanoe  t^that  which  Coaimodoie  ChauB* 


V. 


\ 


Ml 


tfifiiiMiilMiiii 


(1814. 


1814.] 


NATAL    HIBTOAT. 


421 


eey  occupied ;  and  it  may  be  juitly  quostioned  if  ony  officer 
could  have  acquitted  hinrwelf  better,  of  the  high  irUst  that  had 
been  npomad  iii  hini.  He  commanded  the  profound  resMct  ol 
the  vi«lant,  bold,  and  akilAil  commander  to  whom  he  was 
oppoMd,  and  to  the  laat,  retained  the  entire  confidence  of  hia 
own  govemment. 


CHAPTER  XLVm. 


WkMit  Commodore  Bainbridse  gave  up  the  command  of  th« 
Constitutioa  44,  in  1818,  that  snip  was  found  to  be  to  decayed 
aa  to  require  extensive  repairs.  Her  crew  was  principally  sent 
upon  the  lakes,  a  new  one  entered,  and  the  command  of  her 
was  given  to  Captain  Charles  Stewart.  The  ship,  however, 
was  not  able  to  get  to  sea  until  the  winter  of  1814,  when  she 
made  a  cruise  to  the  southward,  passing  down  the  coast,  and 
running  through  the  West  Indies,  on  her  way  home,  where  she 
fell  in  with  La  Pique  80,  which  ship  made  her  ercape  by  go* 
ing  through  the  Mona  passage  in  the  night.  Previously  to  her 
return  the  Constitutioa  captured  the  Pictou  14,  a  man-of-war 
achoooer  of  the  enemy.  Reaching  the  American  coaat,  she 
was  chased  into  Marbleheod  bv  two  English  frigates,  the  Ju* 
Don  and  Tenedos.  Shortly  after  she  went  to  Boston.  In  this 
cruise,  the  Constitutioa  made  a  few  priiea,  in  addition  to  the 


On  the  17th  of  Deeenber,  the  Constitution  again  left  Bo«- 
ton,  and  ran  off  Bermuda;  thfenoe  to  the  vicinity  of  Madeira, 
and  into  the  Bay  of  Biao«T.  After  this,  she  cruised  some  time 
in  sight  of  the  Rock  of  Lisbcm,  makin|[  two  prizes,  one  of 
which  was  destrojred,  and  the  other  sent  :n.  While  in  the  vi« 
dnity  of  hUboa,  she  made  a  la^  ship  and  gave  chase,  but 
bdbm  her  courses  were  raised,  one  of  the  prizes  just  mention- 
ed, was  flillea  in  with,  and  while  securing  it,  }he  strange  sail 
disappeared.  This  vessel  is  understood  to  have  been  the  ElU 
zabatli  74,  which|an  her  arrival  at  Lisbon,  hearing  that  the 
CcMistitutioa  wa*  otT^flie  coast,  immediate^  came  out  in  pur- 
floit  of  her;  but  Captain  Stewart  had  stood  to  the  southward 
•fld  wertward,  in  quest  of  aa  eoemy  said  to  be  in  that  directioo. 


i'"'i'ii.i'a>.i  ■ 


mm 


i0ia 


I'\ 


4m  naval   hibtobt.  [ins- 

On  the  morning  of  tho  20th  of  February,  the  wind  blowing 
»  light  Letanter,  finding  nothing  where  he  was,  CapUin  Stew- 
art ordered  the  helm  put  up,  and  the  ship  ran  off  ■outhweat, 
Tarying  her  position,  in  that  direction,  fifty  or  iiity  miloa.    At 
1  P.  M.,  a  atraogbr  waa  teen  on  tho  larboard  bow,  when  the , 
■hip  hauled  up  two  or  three  pointo,  and  made  sail  in  chase. 
In  about  twenty  minutes  the  stranger  was  made  out  to  be  a 
ship ;  and  half  an  hour  '.at^r,  a  second  vessel  was  seen  ikrther 
to  leeward,  which  at  two  was  also  ascertained  to  bo  a  ship. 
The  Constitution  kept  standing  ' >n,  all  three  vessels  on  bow- 
lines,  until  four,  when  the  nearest  of  the  strangers  made  a 
signal  to  the  ship  to  leeward,  and  shortly  after  he  kept  away 
tail  ran  down  towards  his  consort,  then  about  three  leagues 
under  his  lee.    The  Constiturion  immediately  squared  away, 
and  set  her  studding-sails,  alow  and  aloft.   No  doubt  was  now 
entortainiNl  of  the  strangers  being  enemies ;  the  nearest  ship 
having  the  appearance  of  a  small  frigate,  and  the  vessel  to 
leeward  that  of  a  large  sloop  of  war.    The  first  was  carrying 
atudding-snils  on  both  sides,  while  the  last  was  running  off 
under  short  canvass,  to  allow  her  consort  to  close.     Captain 
Stewart  believed  it  wai  their  intention  to  keep  away,  on  their 
best  mode  of  sailing,  until  night,  in  the  hope  of  escaping ;  and 
he  crowded  every  thing  that  would  draw,  with  a  view  to  wt 
the  nearest  vessel  under  his  guns.    About  half-past  four,  the 
apar  proving  defective,  the  main  royal-mast  was  carried  away, 
and  the  chase  gained.    A  few  guns  were  now  fired,  but  find- 
ing  tliat  the  shot  fell  short,  the  attempt  to  cripple  the  stranger 
was  abandoned.  . 

Perowving,  at  half-past  five,  that  it  was  impoasible  to  pre- 
vent  the  enemy  from  effecting  a  junction,  the  Consttlution, 
then  a  little  more  than  a  league  distant  from  the  farthest  ship, 
elearad  for  action.  Ten  minutes  later,  the  two  chases  passed 
within  hail  of  each  other,  came  by  the  wind  with  their  hei»ds 
to  the  northward,  hauled  up  their  courses,  and  were  evidently 
clearing  to  engage.  In  a  few  minutea  both  shipa  suddenly 
made  sail,  close  by  the  wmd,  in  order  to  weather  upon  the 
American  firigate,  but  perceiving  that  the  latter  was  closing  too 
fast,  they  again  hauM  up  their  courses,  and  fonned  on  the 
wicd,  the  smailest  uhip  ahead.  ,     , 

At  e  P.  M.,  tie  Constitution  had  the  enemy  competely  un- 
der her  guns,  and  she  showed  her  ensign.  The  strangers  an- 
swered this  defiance,  by  setting  English  colours,  and  five  min- 
utu  later,  the  American  ship  ranged  up  abeam  of  the  stem 


^tummiumtmttm 


'iilfiliiliiiiii 


.,j.^^.||.^.A.U./.a;«^^.:^. 


"«i.^  w 


[ins. 

ad  blowing 
}Uin  Stew< 
■outhwMt, 
miloa.    At 
,  when  the 
I  in  chaae. 
lut  to  be  a 
Mjen  fitrther 
bo  a  ship, 
la  on  bow- 
m  made  a 
kept  away 
ree  leagues 
nred  away, 
ibt  was  now 
teareat  ship 
M  veaael  to 
as  carrying 
running  on 
e.     Captain 
ay,  on  their 
caping ;  and 
view  to  get 
ist  four,  the 
irried  away, 
td,  but  find* 
the  atranger 

lible  to  pre- 
Constilution, 
farthest  ship, 
laaes  passed 
their  heeds 
sre  evidently 
ipa  suddenly 
ler  upon  the 
IS  closing  too 
rmed  on  the 

mj^ely  un- 
itrangers  an- 
ind  five  mia« 
of  tbe  stem 


181A.1 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


423 


most  vessel,  at  the  distance  of  a  cable's  length,  passing  ohead 
with  her  sails  lifting,  until  the  three  ships  formed  nearly  ao 
cqiiilalcra!  triangle,  the  Ooniililution  to  windward.  In  this 
masterly  position  the  action  commenced,  the  three  vosmiis  keep, 
ing  up  a  hot  and  unceasing  fii^l  for  about  a  ciuartcr  of  an  hour, 
when  that  of  the  enemy  sensibly  slackened.  The  sea  bomg 
covered  with  an  immonso  cloud  of  smoke,  and  it  hemg  now 
moonlight,  Captain  Stewart  ordered  the  cannonading  to  ccose. 
In  three  minutes  the  smoke  had  blown  away,  when  the  lead- 
ing  ship  of  tho  enemy  was  seen  under  the  lee-beum  of  the 
Constitution,  while  the  sternmost  was  luffing,  as  if  she  intend- 
ed  to  tack  and  cross  her  wake.  Giving  a  broadside  to  the 
ship  abreast  of  her,  the  American  frigate  threw  her  mam  ond 
mizxen-topsails  with  topgallant-soils  set,  fiat  aback,  shook  ah 
forward,  let  fly  her  jib-shcot,  and  backetl  swiftly  astern,  com- 
pelling  the  enemy  to  fill  again  to  avoid  being  raked.  The 
leading  ship  now  attempted  to  tack,  to  cross  the  Constitution  s 
fore-foot,  when  the  latter  filled,  boarded  her  fore-tack,  shot 
ahead,  forced  her  antagonist  to  ware  under  a  raking  broadsule, 
and  to  run  off  to  leeward  to  escape  from  the  weight  of  her 

fire.  .     ,  1  • 

The  Constitution  perceiving  that  the  largest  ship  was  war- 
ing also,  wore  on  her  keel,  fod  crossing  her  stern,  raked  her 
with  effect,  though  the  ewimy  came  by  the  wind  immediately, 
and  delivered  his  larboard  broadside;  but  as  the  O    stitution 
ranged  up  close  on  his  weather  quarter,  h«  struck.     Mr.  Hoff- 
man, the  second  lieutenant  of  the  Constitution,  was  imirosdl- 
ately  sent  to  take  possession ;  tlie  priM  proving  to  bo  the  Brit- 
ish ship  Cyane  24,  Captain  Falcon.  . .   j  u_ 
In  the  mean  time,  the  Khip  that  had  run  to  leeward  had  been 
foixsed  out  of  the  combat  by  the  crippled  condition  of  her  run- 
ning riming,  and  to  avoid  the  weight  of  the  Constitution's  fire. 
She  was  ignorant  of  the  ftte  of  the  Cyane,  but  at  the  end  of 
•bout  an  hour,  having  repaired  damages,  she  hauled  up,  and 
met  the  Constitutron  coming  down  in  quest  of  her.    It  was 
near  nine  before  the  two  ships  crossed  each  other  on  opposite 
tacks,  the  Constitution  to  windward,  and  exchanged  broad- 
aides.    The  EngUsh  ship  finding  her  antagonist  too  heavy, 
immediately  bore  up,  in  doing  which  she  got  a  raking  dis- 
charge, when  the  Constitution  boarded  fore-tack  and  made  sail, 
keeping  up  a  most  efiective  chasins  fire,  from  her  two  bow 
nuns,  nearly  every  shot  of  which  told.    ITie  two  ships  were 
no  near  each  other,  that  the  ripping  of  the  enemy's  planks  was 


iiHtai 


■<.jj""f4'"' 


lii 


4M 


NAVAL  HitTomr. 


[IS1«. 


hoard  on  board  Iho  Aroehcan  fVigato.  Tha  fonner  wm  una- 
ble to  aupport  thia  luog,  and  at  lO  P.  M.  ho  came  by  the  wind, 
bred  a  uun  to  ioowuni,  and  iuwonxj  his  enaign.  Mr.  W.  H. 
HhubricK,  tlie  third  lioulDnant,  waa  aeut  on  board  to  take  poa< 
•eeaion,  when  it  woa  found  that  the  prise  waa  the  Levant  18, 
the  Honouiabic  Captain  Douglaa. 

During  fhia  oruiae,  the  Conatitution  mounted  53  guna  ;  and 
abo  had  a  oompieaienl  of  about  470  men,  ail  told ;  a  few  of 
whom  were  abaent  in  •  nrixo.  The  Cyane  waa  a  frisato-buil 
•hip,  that  pro^l^  rauN.  "  ,una,  though  ahe  appeared  aa  only 
a  SO  in  Bteeie'a  liat,  mounting  2'2  thirty-two>pound  carronndea 
on.  her  guo-derk,  and  10  eighteen-pound  oarronadoa,  with  two 
chaae  suna,  on  her  quarterdeck  and  forecaatle ;  making  84  in 
all.  The  Levant  waa  a  new  ahip,  rating  18  and  mounting  18 
thirty -two-pound  carronadoa,  a  ahifting  eighteen  on  her  topgal- 
lant forecaatle,  and  two  ohaao  guna  i  or  31  in  all.  There  were 
feood  in  the  Cyane,  IflS  priaonera,  of  whom  3d  were  wouaded. 
The  precise  number  slain  on  board  her  ia  not  known ;  Captain 
Stewart,  probably  judging  from  an  examination  of  the  muater- 
book,  computing  it  at  13,  while  the  acoounta  given  by  theEng* 
liah  publicationa  differ,  some  putting  the  killed  at  only  4  and 
others  at  0.    It  waa  probably  between  the  two  estimatea.     Her 

X'  ir  crew  waa  about  185,  all  told ;  and  tlwru  ia  no  reaaon 
ieve  that  it  waa  not  nearly,  if  not  abaolutely  Aill.  Cap* 
tain  Stewart  auppoaea  it  to  have  been  180  in  the  action,  which 
waa  probablv  about  the  truth.  The  Levant's  regular  comple- 
ment ia  aaid  to  have  been  180,  all  told;  but  it  appeara  by  a 
statement  publiahed  in  Barbadoca,  where  some  of  her  oflioers ' 
shortly  after  went,  that  there  were  a  good  many  aupernumera* 
riaa  in  the  two  vessels,  who  were  ooing  to  the  Westam  Islands, 
to  bring  away  a  ship  that  was  building  there.  Captain  Stew- 
art supposes  the  Levant  to  have  had  156  men  in  the  actioo, 
of  whom  he  believed  38  to  have  been  killed,  and  16  wounded. 
The  first  estimate  naay  have  been  too  high,  though  ths  truth 
can  yMmtAy  never  be  known.  It  is  believed  that  no  English 
official  acclHjnt  of  this  action  has  ever  been  published,  but  the 
Barbadoes  stetement  makes  the  joint  loss  of  the  two  ships,  10 
killed,  and  38  wounded  ?  other  Bnglidi  aocouots  raise  it  as 
high  OS  41  in  ail.  It  mav  Iwvo  been  a  little  less  than  the  esti- 
mate  of  Captain  Stewart,  (although  hia  account  of  thtr  wounded 
must  have  been  accurate,)  but  was  probably  ooosiderably  more 
than  that  of  the  English  stetements.  The  Constitution  had  8 
killed,  and  13  wounded,  or  she  sustaiofad  a  total  Iom  oi  IS 


Vii'i  -"i  ■  f  ^1MMlri^ltkifliiM^^llilA 


muutum 


mmnmumn 


N^r 


[IM. 


it 

by  the  wind, 

Mr.  W.  B. 

to  take  pot- 

Levant  18, 

guDa ;  and 
1 ;  R  f«w  of 
frinte-buil 
ired  M  only 
!  carronadea 
»,  with  two 
•king  84  in 
nounting  16 

hor  tofifpA- 
There  were 
rewouaded. 
rn;  Captain 
the  miMter- 
by  the  Eng- 

only  4  and 
nates.  Her 
■  DO  reawn 

Alii.  Cap. 
stion,  which 
liar  comple- 
ppoara  by  a 

her  olRotn 
ipernunien> 
am  Islands, 
iptain  Slew- 

the  action, 
6  wounded, 
h  the  truth 

no  English 
bed,  but  the 
ro  ships,  10 

raise  it  as 
uuDtbeesti' 
htr  wounded 
urably  mon 
ution  had  8 

loss  oflS 


lUA.] 


NATAL    ailTORT. 


435 


moa.  By  1  A.  M.,  of  the  aist,  site  was  ready  (or  another 
acUcu.  Although  it  was  mora  than  thrt^  hours  and  a  half, 
from  the  time  un«  combat  comniouccd,  ucfure  Oni  Levant 
struck,  the  actual  flghting  did  not  occupy  thr«n-quart«)rs  of  an 
hour.  For  a  night  action,  the  oxnoution  on  both  siiks  was 
unusual,  the  enemy  firing  much  better  than  commu:.  The 
Constitution  was  hulled  oftener  in  this  engagement,  than  in 
both  her  previous  battles,  though  she  suflbred  less  in  her  craw, 
than  in  the  combat  with  the  Java.  She  had  not  an  officer 
hurt 

The  manner  in  which  Captain  Stewart  handled  his  ship,  on 
this  occasion,  excited  much  admiration  among  nautical  men, 
it  being  an  unusual  thing  for  a  single  vessel  to  nngage  two 
enemies,  and  eecape  being  raked.  So  fiir  from  thia  ocfiurring 
to  the  CbnstituUon,  however,  she  actually  raked  both  Iter  op- 
ponents, and  the  manner  in  which  she  backed  and  filled  in  the 
smoke,  forcing  her  two  antagonists  down  to  leeward,  when 
they  wn  endeavouring  to  omm  her  alem  or  fore-foot,  is  among 
the  most  brilliant  manouvring  in  naval  annals. 

It  is  due  to  a  gallant  enomv  to  say,  that  Captain  Douglas 
commanded  the  respect  of  the  Americans,  by  his  intrepid  per- 
severance in  standing  by  his  consort.  Although  the  attempt 
might  not  have  succeeded,  the  time  necessarily  lost  in  securing 
the  Cyane,  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  endeavour  to  escape, 
that  he  nob^  rellised  to  improve. 

Captain  Stews  rt  propeeded  with  his  two  priaos  U>  Port  Praya, 
wher^  he  arrived  on  the  10th  of  March.  Ifare  a  vessel  was 
engaged  as  a  cartel,  and  mora  than  a  hundred  of  the  prisonera 
weielanded  with  a  view  to  help  fit  her  for  sea.  Saturday, 
Marah  11th,  1810,  a  little  after  meridian,  while  the  cutter  was 
absent  to  bring  the  cartel  under  the  stem  of  the  firigsteTthe 
sea  was  covered  with  a  heavy  fog,  aear  the  water,  and  there 
was  a  good  deal  of  haae  above,  but  in  the  latter,  the  sails  of  a 
large  ship  were  visible.  She  was  on  a  wind,  looking  in-ohore, 
md  eviaantlv  stretehing  towards  the  roads.  The  fint  liej- 
tenant,  Mr.  Shubriok,  reported  the  cireumstaooe  to  Captain 
Stewart.  This  oAoer  believing  that  the  stranjp  sail  would 
prava  to  be  an  Bof  lish  iVigate  or  an  Indiaman,  directed  the 
UMilMUUit  to  return  oo  deck,  call  all  hands,  and  get  ready  to 
go  oat  and  attack  bar.  As  soon  as  this  order  was  given,  the 
ofBoar  todi  a  n«w  look  at  the  stranger,  when  he  disoovered 
tb<^  oanvass  of  iwo  other  ships  rising  above  the  bank  of  fog, 
in  the  sanw  dlWotioB.    These  veasels  were  evidenUy  heavy. 


491 


RATAL    NIITORf. 


nn& 


n»n.of-w«r,  «nd  Captain  Stewart  wm  immediately  apprised  of 
the  fnmh  liim^very.  TliaC  pruiiifH  and  ikKidcd  .jfiiwir  did  not 
lieaitate  an  iaataiit  tn>o<»rnmH  the  courie  ho  i>«ight  to  lake. 
Well  knowing  that  ihe  Knglwh  would  diaregard  lh«  iwulraiily 
of  any  port  that  had  net  auflicient  force  to  nwirt  them,  or 
which  did  not  h»dong  lo  a  nation  they  were  obliged  to  reapect, 
he  imimrdiatnly  matfo  a  aignal  for  the  priwea  to  follow,  and  or- 
dered the  Couatitutioo'i  cable  to  b«  cut.  In  10  minulwi  after 
thia  order  waa  laaued,  and  in  14  after  the  ftmt  ihip  had  been 
seen,  the  American  frigate  wk-  standing  out  of  the  roads, 
under  her  three  t«NMailt. 

The  cool  and  ofticcr-like  manner  in  which  aail  waa  made 
and  the  ahip  caat,  on  thia  oocaaion,  haa  been  much  citoll"d, 
not  an  inaUnt  having  been  loat  by  hurry  or  conftision.  The 
prizoe  followed  with  promptitude.  The  northeent  tradwi  were 
blowing,  and  the  three  veaaela  paiaedout  to  tea  about  gun-nhot 
to  windward  of  the  hoatile  atjuadron,  juat  clearins  Eaat  Point. 
Aa  the  Conatitution  cleared  the  land,  ahe  croaaxd  topgallant- 
yarda,  boarded  her  tacki,  and  set  all  the  light  miU  that  would 
draw.  The  English  priwnora  on  ahore,  took  (toaaoaaion  of  a 
battery,  and  fired  at  her  aa  she  went  out.  As  soon  as  the 
Amencan  ships  had  gained  the  weather  beam  of  the  enemy, 
the  latter  tacked,  and  the  six  vessels  stood  off  to  the  south- 
ward and  eastward,  carrying  every  thing  that  would  draw,  and 
going  about  ten  knota. 

The  fug  still  lay  so  thick  upon  the  water  aa  to  conceal  the 
hulls  of  the  straogers,  but  they  were  supposed  to  bo  two  line- 
of.battle  ships,  anda  large  frigate,  the  vessel  most  astern  and 
to  leeward,  being  the  oommodora.  The  frigate  weatherod  on 
all  the  American  shiM,  gaining  on  the  Levant  and  Cyane,  but 
falling  astern  of  the  Constitution ;  while  the  two  larger  vessels, 
on  the  latler's  lee  quarter,  held  way  with  her.  As  soon  as 
clear  of  the  land,  the  Constitution  cut  adrift  two  of  her  boats, 
tk-i  enemy  ptessing  her  too  bard  to  allow  of  their  being  hoisted 
m.  The  C^ane  was  gradually  dropping  astern  and  to  leeward, 
rendering  it  certain,  if  she  stood  on,  tW  the  most  weatheriy 
of  the  enemy's  vesaels  would  soon  bfc  alongaide  of  her  \  and 
at  10  minutes  past  one.  Captain  Stewart  made  a  signn)  for  her 
to  tack.  This  order  waa  obeyed  by  Mr.  Hoflhtan,  the  prixe- 
master  j  and  it  waa  now  expected  that  one  of  the  enemy's 
ship*  would  go  about,  and  follow  him ;  a  hope  that  was  disap- 
pointed. The  Cyane  finding  that  she  was  not  pursued,  stood 
on  until  site  was  lost  iti  the  fog,  when  Mr,  Hoflban  tacked 


•MiwyiiliMiiiHiii^^ 


inpr«|i 


11I1& 


1111.] 


NAYAL     HIITOKTt 


437 


but 


W 


Jiin,  anticipAling  that  iho  mtmny  might  ch«««)  him  to  l«ww»rd. 
\M  prudent  officer  impwvod  hw  •dvaiit«t5«s  by  l»,-.'|iing  U» 
windward  lonjj  oituugh  to  allow  the  enemy  to  get  «h«ind,  •Iniuld 
they  purtuo  him,  when  he  aquarad  away  for  America,  arriving 
■al'ely  at  New  Yorl(  on  (he  lUth  of  April  Tollowing. 

The  thr»w  thipe  of  the  enemy  «onlinu«Hl  to  chaia  the  (in- 
stitution and  Levant.     A»  ll»e  viswek  MX  the  land  tlw  fo^  l»«- 
ened,  though  it  still  lay  to  dcnw  on  Ihij  iinmrdiale  »ur(lufl  of 
Iba  ocean,  aa  to  leave  Ca|>Uin  Htawart  in  doubl  a«  k>  the  force 
of  hia  pursuera.     The  Ilngliah  offioera  on  board  the  (^»natitu- 
lion  aflfrined  that  the  vra«el  that  waa  getting  into  h«>r  wake 
waa  the  Acaala  40,  Ca|)tain  Kerr,  a  twi'Uty-four-fxwmler  ahip, 
and  i:  waa  thought  that  the  throe  were  a  atiuadron  thul  waa 
oruiaing  for  the  Frcaidont,  IVacocli,  and  Hornet,  t-onalaliiig  of 
the  I^mnder  (JO,  Sir  George  Collier,  Newcaalle  «M),  Lord  George 
Stuart,  and  the  Acaatn ;  the  ahipa  that  they  aubaequently  proved 
to  bo.     The  Newcaatle  wan  the  veaael  on  the  len-quarler  of  the 
Constitution,  and  by  b«lf-|Huil  two  the  fog  had  gt>t  ao  low,  that 
her  officera  were  aeon  ata.iding  on  the  hanimock-clotha,  though 
the  line  of  her  porta  waa  not  viaiblo.     8ha  miw  began  to  fire 
by  diviaiona,  ana  aome  opinbn  could  be  formed  of  ner  arma- 
ment, by  the  (laahoa  of  her  guna,  through  the  fog.     Her  shot 
•truck  the  water  within  a  hundred  yarda  of  the  American  ahip, 
but  did  not  riae  again.     By  3  P.  M.,  the  Levant  had  fallen  ao 
fcr  aatern,  that  ane  waa  in  the  very  danger  from  which  the 
Cyane  had  ao  lately  been  extricated,  and  CapUin  Stewart 
made  her  aignal  to  tack  alao.     Mr.  Ballard  imniediatcly  com- 
plied,  and  7  minutea  later  the  throe  Bng liah  ahipa  tacked,  by 
signal,  and  chaaod  the  prize,  leaving  the  Conatitution  atanding 
00  in  •  diflbrsnt  direction,  and  going  at  the  rate  of  eleven  knots. 
Mr.  Ballard  finding  the  enemy  bent  on  following  the  Levant, 
with  the  Acasta  already  to  windward  of  hia  wako,  ran  back 
into  Port  Praya,  and  ancho:ed,  at  4  o'clock,  within  150  yards 
of  the  shore,  under  a  strong  battery.    The  cnemy'a  ahipa  had 
cooiineDoed  firing,  as  soon  as  it  was  seen  that  tl»e  Levant 
would  gain  the  anchorage,  and  all  three  now  openrd  on  the 
priie.     After  bearing  %e  fire  for  r   considoroblc  time,  the 
colours  of  the  Levant  were  hauled  down.    No  one  wn^  hurt 
in  the  priie,  Mr.  Ballard  causing  his  men  to  lie  on  the  deck,  as 
soon  aa  the  ahip  was  anchored.    The  English  prisoners  in  the 
battery,  also  fired  at  the  Levant. 

Sir  George  Collier  was  much  criticised  for  the  course  lie 
pursued  on  this  occasion.     It  was  certainly  a  mistake  to  call 


mgi^ 


NATAIi    mtTOITi 


(Itit 


oiT  mora  Umm  om  thip  to  ohaw  Iba  Untat,  thmiffh  tb*  poailioa 
of  ii'wi  l^mndmT  m  (h«  (»§,  so  far  U>  isevani  and  astofsi,  ditS  &<}t 
gtv«  Um  Miimr  uAii'rr  thn  bnai  oppiirtimitimi  fur  ufaMmns  th« 
ouuna  of  atriiiito.  Tlinra  wm  t-rrt«iiily  ii»«»ry  pnw|iail  of  tha 
AoMta't  bringing  ih«i  (^latilutioD  to  kHum  in  ttw  cwurao  of 
tlM  oiglit,  Ibough  tlM  <i«b«r  vMNMiki  minht  hava  beM  ItA  •»  fltf 
Mlorn,  M  adll  lo  r«n<inr  iIm  raault  lioubtfUI. 

Whatovni  nMy  h«  ihoughl  of  the  imiMf^nmrnt*  nf  IIm  inMmv, 
Utnni  oan  bn  but  (mm  opinion  iw  to  that  o(('My»dn  Htowart.  Tm 
promptitude  with  which  hm  dacuM  on  hia  rouraa,  iha  judgnant 
with  which  ha  oniered  lha  iirmaa  lo  vary  thoir  couraea,  and 
th<t  staadinaM  with  which  tba  CoiMitutiaa  waa  oominandad, 
aitlrd  in  alavatiog  a  proAwiitNMl  nnutation  that  waa  already 
very  high. 

Thii  tartninaUMl  lha  axploita  of  the  gallnni  Coiiatitiilion,  or 
Old  IriHiaidaa,  aa  aha  waa  aflbetionalaly  calM  in  th«  navy  { 
Captain  fttawart.  aftar  landing  hia  priaonnra  at  Maranhani,  and 
IfMrniog  at  Porto  Rico,  that  praoa  had  been  niada,  carried 
h<ir  into  New  York,  about  the  middle  of  May.  In  the  oouma 
of  two  yeara  and  nina  montha,  thia  ahip  had  been  in  Ihrra  ao- 
liona,  liiid  been  twice  critically  chaaed,  and  had  captumd  Ave 
voaaeia  of  war,  two  of  tyhioh  were  frigate*,  and  a  third  <Vigat*> 
built.  In  all  her  aorvioe,  aa  well  before  Tripoli,  aa  in  thia  war, 
har  good  fortune  waa  retnarkabW.  She  never  waa  dianiaatad, 
B*ver  goi  aahore,  or  acarooly  over  aufibred  any  of  the  uaual 
•ooidaata  of  the  aaa.  Though  ao  often  in  battle,  no  very  aeri- 
oua  alaoghter  ever  took  place  on  boa.-d  her.  One  of  her  com- 
nModara  waa  wounded,  and  four  of  her  lieutenanla  had  been 
UIM  (two  oa  har  own  decka,  and  two  in  the  IiUrepid ;  but,  on 
tha  whole,  her  entire  career  had  been  that  of  what  ia  uaually 
oallod  a  *•  luoky  ahip."  Her  fortoaa,  however,  may  perhapa 
be  aiplained  to  the  almf^  iket,  that  alia  had  alwaya  been  well 
oonunanded.  In  her  two  laat  cruiaaa  aha  had  probably  paa> 
amned  aa  Ana  a  crew  aa  ever  Ruuiiied  a  IVigate.  Thov  wera 
principally  New  England  men,  aod  it  haa  bean  aaid  of  them, 
that  they  wera  fdmoet  qtialidad  to  flgkt  the  ahip  without  her 
odkera.  ^ 


iM^a^Miii 


MiMiii 


MMMMMiiill 


iiyii"'yi" 


tm» 


NATAL    fttlTOIV. 


4Q9 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

Wmm  Comnwilon)  Rwlgert  left  thu  Pre^nknl,  in  «h«  •umm«r 
of  IHI4,  lo  takfl  c«nni«n«l  of  Ihfl  Ou«rmrB,  < !omtiK»d«>rt>  !)«• 
Mlur  WM  tnnwfrrwl  to  lh«  fi)rmi»r  thin  {  Unibnl  HutMi 
«ii<l  Mwt^lortwii,  thMX  bUirli«.|ra  in  lh«  ThumM,  having  htwn 
Uni  up,  •nd  tK«  llonwK.  CiiiHiiin  HiAII^,  li-ft  lo  \mani  rhi^m. 
Thi«  ■ervkc  wm  p«rltrul«rty  irli»<>ri»  lo  an  cHB««rof  the  »pim 
of  th«  l«»t.n«in«l  amlleiTOin  j  aiwl  pmnMsttiring  in  hi»  •pplic*- 
Ikma  to  »m  n«l«n.Mrrrom  it,  hn  (IwiUy  rrcdvrd  nn  onW  lo  join 
ComiiKKkut*  Dw-mur  «t  New  York,  whew  the  I'rwident  had 
been  Bonte  tiino  detained  to  nuike  jmrt  of  the  M^ncii  of  ih« 
port,  while  ihe  enemy  wna  «)fnmillinK  lti«  iktprwiation*  on  the 
OQUi,  during  the  mild  wwither.  No  sooner  did  Captmn  Hiddle 
wcnitn  thia  welcome  rommand,  than  he  took  the  flrit  favour- 
■hie  occaaion  lo  pasa  out,  leaving  the  blockading  iquadnm 
to  the  MutwanI,  and  ran  down  to  New  York.  Thm  waa  in 
Dh*  month  of  Novembrf,  1914,  and  ComnKidore  I>oratur  had 
DOW  a  force  oonairting  of  Ihe  PreaUlenl  44,  hi«  own  iihio,  Pea- 
eook  18,  ('apUin  Warrington,  Hornet  IH,  Capuin  Uiddle,  and 
Tom  Bowline  ■toro-veaael.     Hm  daaiination  wm  the  K«rt 


Indiea,  whef«  it  wai  thought  great  havoc  might  bo  made  with 
the  valuable  trade  of  the  Bngliah. 

Owing  to  different  cauaea,  btitprinoipnily  to  the  wmh  of  the 

Svemmmit  to  keep  a  force  at  New  York  to  raiiai  the  depre- 
liona  of  tlie  enemy,  CoiTimodore  Decatur  did  not  get  to  aer. 
unUI  the  middte  of  January,  Idlft.  The  Prwident  dropped 
down  to  Sandy  Hook  alone,  leaving  the  other  vea»la  lymg  at 
Btaten  Uland,  and  on  the  night  of  the  14lh,  nhe  made  nn  at- 
tempt to  crowi  the  bar.  In  cooee!qucn«w  of  the  darkncM,  the 
pilots  mbMNl  the  ohMiiiel  and  the  ■hip  struck  {  beating  heavily 
on  the  aanda,  for  an  hour  and  a  half.  About  10  o'clock  the 
tide  had  rieeo  to  ita  height,  and  she  waa  forced  into  deep  water. 
Although  the  veawsl  had  received  considerable  injuty,  it  waa 
impoaaible  to  return,  and  a  strong  blockading  force  bring  in 
the  offlng,  it  became  neoeasary  lo  carry  sail  to  get  oflTtho  coast 
before  morning.  It  had  Mown  a  gale  the  provious  day,  and 
Commodore  Decatur,  rightly  judging  that  the  enemy  had  been 
driven  to  leewa|d,  decided  to  run  along  the  land  to  the  north- 


nyp 


fm 


wmttm 


NATAL    HI9T0RT. 


[t8l« 


ward  nnd  eastward,  aa  the  beat  means  of  avoiding  a  greatly 
Buporior  force.  Thin  determination  was  judicious,  and,  had 
not  the  detention  occurred  on  the  bar,  it  would  have  been  «^m- 
pleteiv  successftil.  Aller  runLiing  off  in  a  northeastern  direc- 
tion  for  about  6  hours,  the  course  of  the  ship  was  altered  to  S. 
E.  by  E.  Two  hours  later,  a  strange  sail  was  discovered 
•head,  within  guD.shot,  and  two  others  being  soon  after  seen, 
the  President  hauled  up  and  passed  to  the  northward  of  them 
all.  At  daylight,  four  ships  were  seen  in  chaw,  one  on  each 
quarter  and  two  astern.  The  neaiust  vessel  was  believed  to 
be  the  Majectk  raste,  which  And  a  broadside  or  two,  in  the 
hope  of  crippling  the  American  fVigate  as  she  paued,  but 
^ithoui  eflhot.  It  is  now  known,  that  the  enemy  had  been 
driven  do  jvn  to  the  southward  b)r  the  gale,  and  that  he  was  just 
rfltumi.ig  to  his  station,  when  thi/>  unlucky  encounter  occurred. 

The  chase  continued  throushjut  the  forenoon,  *Jie  wind 
btooming  lijjhtet  and  bafBios.  The  rasfc  was  dropped  male- 
rially,  but  tlie  »iext  nearest  chip,  ioe  Endymion,  40,  a  Iwenty- 
four-pounder  Aigate,  hP4i  dowd,  and  as  the  President  was 
very  deep,  being  filled  with  stores  for  a  k»g  cruise,  Commo- 
dora  Decatur  comsnenoed  lightening  her.  Uiifortunatoly  the 
comraandM-t  all  the  lieutenants,  and  tlie  master  were  stnuigers, 
in  one  sense,  to  the  ship ;  most  of  them  never  having  been  at 
sea  in  her  at  all,  and  neither  in  any  rosponsible  situatkm.  The 
duty  of  liehteiiing  a  ship  in  chase,  is  one  of  the  moat  delicate 
operations  in  seamanship,  and  it  ought  uver  to  ho  attemp*  . 
except  by  thoau  perfectly  acquainted  with  her  lines,  triir 
i^wage.  Half-a<doieD  mora  water-casks  emptied  at  one  u 
of  the  veesel  than  iit  the  other  may  injurs  hc>.  sailing ;  trni  the 
utmost  car«  is  to  be  observed  bast  the  indiscretion  of  inferiors 
in  the  hold,  defeat  the  calculatxMM  of  the  corwicnder  on  deck. 
On  the  o^facr  hand,  CommodorG  Decatur  decided  to  uwlertake 
this  dehcate  operatioki  under  the  most  favourable  tsircuiostanoea 
diat  a  want  of  familiarity  with  his  ship  wuold  allow,  as  the 
wind  Was  getting  to  be  light,  and  was  neariy  att. 

it  is  not  oertua,  however,  that  the  sailiDg  of  tha  President 
was  'iquied  by  the  j  rooess  of  l^tening,  for  she  is  supposed 
to  have  sufiferad  materiaily  while  on  the  bar,  and  the  ««rny  ob. 
taiced  a  material  advcntage  by  a  change  in  the  vrind.  While 
it  was  still  liriit  with  the  AmerieaD  ship,  the  British,  about  8 
P.  M.,  vem  bringing  down  with  them  a  fi«ah  binwaa.  doon 
aAer,  the  £odymion,  the  nearaat  vvssel,  haTiag  got  within 
mch  of  ehot,  opaoed  with  bar  bow  goiM,  tto  Prasident  ntuni- 


MiHMaiU 


^HtMSwaM 


mtiUim 


(tIM 


1815.} 


NAVAL    HISTORY 


431 


ing  the  fire  with  hor  atern-chaaera.  The  object  of  each,  wwi 
to  cripple  the  spars  of  the  other.  It  is  said,  that  on  this  occa- 
sion, the  shot  of  the  American  ship  were  observed  to  be  thrown 
with  a  nramentum  so  unusually  small,  as  to  have  since  excited 
a  distrust  of  the  Quality  of  her  powder.  It  is  even  added,  that 
manv  of  these  uhot  were  disUnctly  seen,  when  clear  of  the 
smoke,  until  they  struck. 

By  6  P.  M.,  the  Bndymion  bad  got  so  far  on  the  starboard^ 
or  lee  quarter  of  the  President,  that  no  gun  of  the  latter  would 
bear  on  her  without  altering  the  course.  The  fire  of  the  Eng- 
lish ship  now  became  exceedingly  annoying,  for  she  was  ma- 
terially within  point-blank  range,  and  every  shot  cut  away 
something  aloft.  Still  it  was  borne,  in  the  hope  that  she  would 
range  up  alongside,  and  give  the  President  an  opportunity  of 
laymg  her  aboard.  Finding,  however,  that  the  enemy  warily 
kept  his  position  by  yawing,  in  the  hope  of  gradually  crippling 
the  American  ship,  Comnwdore  Decatur  decided  on  a  course 
that  singularly  partodi  of  the  daring  chivalry  of  his  character. 

It  was  now  evident  that  the  sailing  <^  the  President  was 
much  impaired  by  some  cauM  or  other;  either  by  injuries  re- 
ceived on  the  bar,  or  by  the  manner  in  which  she  had  been 
lightened,  and  escape  by  flight  had  become  nearly  h<^leM. 
C!ommodore  Decatur,  therefore,  decided  to  make  an  effort  to 
exchange  ships,  by  carrying  the  Endvmion,  hand  to  hand, 
and  to  go  off  in  the  prize,  aband^^ing  his  own  vessel  to  the 
enemy.  With  this  object  in  view,  he  (tetermined  to  keep  away, 
lay  the  enemy  aboard  if  possible,  aod  put  every  thin^  on  the 
stioceas  of  the  experiment.  The  j>lan  was  communicated  to 
the  pecole,  who  received  it  cheerfully,  and  just  at  dusk,  the 
helm  o/ the  President  was  put  up,  bringins  the  wind  over  the 
taffrail,  the  ship  heading  sovtb.  But  siie  was  so  closely 
watched,  that  the  EadymMU  kept  awa^  at  the  same  moment, 
and  the  two  ships  soon  came  abeam  of  each  other,  when  both 
delivered  their  brtwdsides.  All  the  Piesident's  attempts  to 
close,  were  defeated,  for  the  yesaab  were  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  apart,  and  as  she  hauled  nearer  to  the  enemy,  the  latter 
sheeiwl  away  firom  her.  Without  a  superiority  m  sailing,  it 
was  impossible  for  Coroiaodore  Decatur  to  get  any  nearer,  and 
he  wos  now  reduced  to  the  neoeosity  of  atlempUDjj  to  get  rid 
of  the  Endymion  by  di«nantliag  her.  The  two  frigates,  cm- 
aequently  coDtinned  running  offidead  before  the  wind,  keepiog 
op  a  heavy  cwinooade  fat  two  houfs  and  a  half,  when  tk« 
OMiny'a  T«a«el  was  so  fiir  injond  that  she  feU  aiten,  roost  of 


433 


NAVAL  HISTORT. 


[ISIS. 


her  Milt  having  boon  cut  from  the  yard*.  The  Pra^deot,  at 
this  moment,  wa«  under  her  royal  rtudding-saila,  and  there  w 
no  doubt,  by  choosing  her  poeition,  ahe  might  eawly  have  com- 
pelled  her  adTonary  to  strike;  but,  by  this  Ume,  though  the 
night  was  dark,  the  vessels  astern  were  in  sisht,  and  she  was 
obliged  to  resume  her  original  course  to  avoid  them.  In  doing 
this,  the  President  hauled  up  under  the  broadside  of  her  late 
antagonist,  without  receiving  any  fire  to  iiyure  her. 

It  was  now  half-i>aat  eight,  and  the  President  continued  to 
run  off  southeast,  repairing  damages,  but  it  was  found  impossi- 
ble to  prevent  the  other  vesseU  of  the  enemy  from  cloamg. 
At  11  P.  M.,  the  Pomona  88  oot  on  the  weather  bow  ofthe 
American  ship,  and  poured  in  a  broadside ;  and  as  tbe  Teoedos, 
of  the  same  force,  wat  ftst  closing  on  tbe  quarter,  and  the 
Majestic  was  within  gun-shot  astern,  fiirther  resistanoe  was 
uselesf.  Commodore  Decatur  had  ordered  his  people  below, 
when  he  saw  tbe  two  last  frigates  eloeing,  but  finding  that  his 
■igaal  of  submisrion  was  not  at  first  uikderstood,  the  PomMia 
continuing  to  fire,  an  order  had  been  given  for  them  to  return 
to  their  guns,  just  aa  the  enemy  ceased.  The  Miyestie  oommg 
up  befor«  the  rumoval  of  Ckimmodore  Decatur,  that  gemlemaa 
d^v«r«d  his  sword  to  ber  captahi,  who  was  the  senior  EngUah 

officer  present.  ^.       «>  •  , 

Id  this  long  wad  close  eannonad^  asreeably  to  the  official 
reports,  the  President  lost  S4  men  killed,  and  66  wounded. 
She  was  a  good  deal  inJoTBd  in  her  hull,  and  most  of  her  im- 
portaol  mn  wMe  badly  damaged.  By  one  of  those  chances 
which  decide  tbe  foitanee  of  men,  among  the  elain  were  th0^ 
first,  fourth,  and  fifth  lieatenlnts.  • 

The  Bndymion  had  11  killed,  and  14  wounded,  acoordmff 
ta  the  pubUsbed  rvports.  As  it  is  known  that  an  order  was 
given  to  aim  at  the  rigging  and  spars  of  this  ship,  with  a  view 
to  cripple  her,  it  is  probabte  this  stateraent  was  accurate.  Itls 
believed,  however,  on  respectable  authoritytthat  a  great  mwy 
shot  hulled  the  Bndymion,  which  did  not  penetrate;  a  ftct 
which,  coupled  with  other  obsnrvatioBs  made  during  the  day, 
has  induced  the  distrust  of  the  quality  ofthe  Preeideot^s  po«^. 
Owing  to  one,  or  to  both,  Uw  drcumstancss  named,  the  Eng- 
lish i£p  lost  but  about  a  third  as  many  men  as  the  American, 
though  a  considerable  number  of  tito  Plresl*Mit's  people  were 
killed  and  wounded  by  the  unreslstid  fu^  uf  the  Pttmona,  hav- 
ing been  ordeiwl  back  to  the  guns  before  the  latter  ceased. 
The  President  was  carried  to  Benmida,  and  both  rfie  and' 


tl81S. 

udeot,  at 
there  ia 

aveoom* 

ouffh  the 
•he  woa 
la  doing 

'  her  late 

tinued  to 
1  impowi> 
I  closing, 
m  of  the 
Teoedoa, 
r,  and  the 
anoe  waa 
pie  below, 
igthat  hia 
»  Pomona 
I  to  raturn 
tie  coming 
geotlemaa 
orEogUah 

he  c^Bcial 
wounded. 
>f  her  im> 
lecbanoea 
I  were  tl^- 

aooordiog 
order  waa 
rithaview 
irate.  Itia 
[raatmany 
ite;  a  fiMSt 
ig  the  day, 
t%  powder. 
,  the  Bng* 
American, 
leopw  weic 
mona,  hav> 
oeaaed.  ""^ 
th  ahe  ani' 


tiittmmmm 


Ljm^^l^ 


1618.] 


NAVAL     HI8T0RT. 


433 


the  Endymion  wcro  diRmaatcd  in  a  galfl,  boforo  reaching  port. 
The  latter  aiao  threw  overboard  her  upper-dock  auiiH.  Com* 
modoro  Docatur  was  ihortly  after  paroled,  and  he  and  all 
hia  Burviving  officers  and  men,  were  subsequently  acquitted, 
with  honour,  for  the  loss  of  the  ship. 

The  commanders  of  the  Peacock,  Hornet,  and  Tom  Bowline 
brig,  ignorant  of  the  capture  of  the  Proflident,  followed  her  to 
•ea,  abiout  the  32d,  taking  advantage  of  a  strong  northwester, 
to  pass  the  bar  by  daylight.  The  enemy  was  seen  lying-to  at 
the  southward  and  eastward,  but  was  disregarded.  A  few  dnyi 
out  the  Hornet  parted  company  in  chase  of  a  neutral,  when  all 
three  vessels  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  island  of  Tristan 
d'Acunha,  the  place  of  rtindezvous  appointed  by  Commodore 
Decatur.  The  Peacock  and  Tom  Bowline  arrived  about  the 
middle  of  March,  hut  bad  weather  coming  on,  they  were  driven 
off  the  land.  On  the  morning  of  the  28d  of  the  same  month, 
the  Hornet  came  in,  with  the  wind  fresh  at  S.  S.  W.,  and  waa 
about  to  anchor,  having  let  go  her  topsail-sheets  to  clew  up, 
when  the  men  aloft  discovered  a  sail  to  windward.  The 
stranger  waa  standing  to  the  westward,  and  was  soon  shut  in 
by  the  land.  Captain  Biddle  immediately  sheeted  home  his 
topmils  again,  and  made  a  stretch  to  windward  and  towards 
the  chase,  wh^ch  was  shortly  after  seen  running  down  before 
the  wind.  There  being  little  doubt  as  to  the  clmracter  of  the 
stranger,  the  Hornet  hove-to,  waiting  for  him  to  come  down, 
and  when  he  had  got  near  enough  to  render  it  prudent,  the 
main-topsail  was  filled,  and  the  ship  was  kept  yawing,  occa- 
sionally waring,  both  to  allow  him  to  cloee  and  to  prevent  his 
giving  a  rakina  fire. 

At  1  40  P.  M.,  the  stranoer  having  got  within  musket-shot, 
came  by  the  wind,  set  English  colours  and  fired  a  gun.  On 
this  challenge,  the  Hornet  luflTed  up,  showed  her  ensign,  and 
returned  a  broadside.  For  15  minutes  both  vessels  kept  up  a 
sharp  cannonade,  that  of  the  American  ship,  in  particular,  br- 
ing very  animated  and  destructive,  the  enemy  gradually  drift- 
ing nearer,  when  the  latter,  finding  it  impossilue  to  stand  the 
Hornet's  fire,  put  his  helm  uu  and  ran  down  directly  on  the 
starboard  broadside  of  the  latter,  to  lay  her  aboard.  The 
enemy's  bowsprit  came  in  between  the  main  and  ndijxta  rig- 
ging of  the  Hornet,  aflbrding  a  perfectly  good  opportunity  to 
attempt  eflecting  his  purpose,  but,  though  his  firet  lieutenant 
made  a  gallant  efibrt  to  lead  on  his  men,  the  latter  could  not 
be  induced  to  follow.  Captain  Biddle  had  called  away  boorden 
37 


.M. 


434 


NAVAL     HIBTORf. 


to  repel  boarders,  and  hii  people  now  mwiifeHted  a  •trong  wwh 
to  go  into  tho  hjiglwh  vnwol,  but  pcrcoivmg  hi»  grout  odvan- 
tage  at  the  gunH,  thnt  intrepid  officer,  who  had  been  to  Irco  to 
adopt  thi«  oxpcdicmt,  when  it  waa  hi»  duly  to  lead  in  his  own 
peraon,  judiciously  rcfusetl  his  periniiision. 

The  vessels  lay  in  this  position  but  a  minute  or  two,  the 
American  raking,  when  tho  sea  lifted  the  i'.ornct  ahead,  carrv- 
ing  away  hor  niizzcn  rigging,  davits,  pnd  soankor-boom,  tho 
enemy  swinging  round  und  hanging  on  the  lorboard  quarter. 
At  this  moment,  Captain  Hiddle  stjnt  the  miwtur  forward  to  sot 
the  foresail,  with  a  view  to  part  the  vessels,  when  an  officer  on 
board  the  English  ship  colled  out  that  she  surrendered.  The 
positions  prevented  any  other  firing  than  (hot  of  small-amw  ; 
this  was  ordered  to  cease,  and  Captain  Biddle  sprang  upon  tho 
taflrail  to  inquire  if  tho  enemy  submitted.  While  pulling  this 
question,  he  was  within  thirty  feet  of  tho  forccastl.  of  tho  bng- 
lish  vessel,  aitd  two  marines  on  board  dischar^d  their  mus- 
keU  at  him.  The  ball  of  one  iust  missed  the  chin  and  passing 
through  the  skin  of  the  neck,  inflicted  a  severe,  but  fortunately 
not  a  dangerous  wound.  This  incident  drew  a  discharge  of 
muskets  from  the  Hornet,  which  killed  the  two  marines  ;  the 
American  ship  forged  ahead  at  that  instant,  and  the  enemy 
lost  his  bowsprit  and  foremast  as  the  vessels  separated. 

The  Hornet  now  wore  round,  bringing  a  fresh  broadside  to 
bear,  und  was  about  to  throw  in  a  raking  fire,  when  twenty 
men  appeared  at  the  side  ond  on  the  forecastle  of  the  enemy, 
raising  their  bonds  for  quarter,  ond  eagerly  calling  out  that 
they  had  struck.  The  excitement  on  board  the  American  ship, 
however,  was  so  great,  in  consequence  of  tho  manner  in  which 
their  gallant  captain  had  received  his  wound,  thot  it  wos  with 
the  utmost  difficulty  Captain  Biddle  and  his  officers  could  pre- 
vent the  people  from  pouring  in  another  broadside. 

The  prize  wos  H.  B.  Majesty's  brig  the  Penguin  18,  mount- 
ing 10  carriage  guns ;  viz.,  16  thirty-two-pound  carrunodes, 
two  chase  guns,  and  a  shifting  carronade  on  the  topgallant 
forecutle.  She  was  a  vessel  of  the  Hornet's  class,  sixe,  and 
metal*  and  u  represented  as  having  had  a  spare,  port  forward, 
by  meaus  of  which  she  could  fight  ten  guns  in  broadside.*   Her 

•  Oa  SB  seeurste  oompuUUon  of  ths  nwl  (not  nomlMl)  imUl  of  llw 
tw*  Tiiiili.thi  Hornet wooM  spMsrlohsva  tbnmn,  at  sbrowhkl^abMt 
■tasiMadsman  shot  thsa  ihs  Pwcniii  i  tho  toUsr  not  osinr  hersMio 
psit.  TiTwspools  tho  orsws.  tho  AiiMrioMi  ihip  had  sooBB  !•■  or  iftssB 
StflNstnsBstinsrtsn.    la  toontpthsTsassb  woro  veryasorlyoqnl. 


Hiii 


SHtMM 


1815.] 


NATAL    HISTORY. 


435 


.(implomonl  of  men  wo«  139,  of  wlwrn  I'i  had  bocn  put  on 
Umnl  hor  for  tho  ux|iruM  purpuae  of  onunKinK  "  vury  Jk-hv^ 
American  privaUwr  callwl  Iho  Young  Wotp,  a  fact  that  m 
known  l»y  a  li'tUtr  found  in  hor,  from  iho  Admirnl  at  tho  Cape 
of  (JchhI  Ilopo,  to  which  Blation  tho  Ponguin  bolunged.  Cap- 
tain  Biddio  atatotl  tho  Iom  of  hii  prizo  at  14  kiitiui  and  U9 
wounded.  A«  rwipocti  tho  lattor,  there  could  bo  no  niiNinko, 
though  it  WB«  tho  opinion  of  tho  officer  in  charge  of  tho  Englith 
vvM(!l,  that  more  men  had  been  ilain.  Some  linio  provioualy 
to  this  captum,  the  eneniy  had  a'awd  to  pubilih  tno  ofKcial 
accounts  of  h\a  nautical  dofoota,  but  a  letter  purprtinn  to  bo 
tho  ono  written  on  thia  oticasion,  has  found  itn  way  bolore  tho 
world,  in  which  tho  Bngliah  loaa  ia  atatcd  at  only  10  killed  and 
as  wounded.  Tho  Penguin  waa  completely  riddled  with  tho 
Hornet'd  shot,  loat  hor  foremaat  and  bowaprit,  and  her  main- 
maat  waa  too  much  iniurwl  to  bo  secured,  Anrong  hor  alain 
waa  her  commander,  Captain  Dickon««n,  and  the  boatawain ; 
Mid  among  tho  woundm)  a  lieutenant,  two  midahipmen,  and  tho 

puraer. 

Tho  Hornet  had  but  1  man  killed,  and  10  wounded.  Among 
the  latter,  in  addition  to  Captain  Biddio,  waa  the  firat  lieutenant, 
Mr.  Connor,*  a  young  ofllcor  of  high  promiae,  whoae  life  waa 
conaidored  in  great  danger  for  aomo  tinuj.  iXot  o  round  ahot 
touched  tho  Hornet'a  hull,  nor  did  her  ajioni  receive  an^  ma- 
terial  injury,  though  aho  waa  a  good  deal  cut  up  in  her  rigging 
and  aaila. 

Tho  combat  between  tho  Homot  and  tho  Penguin  waa  one 
of  tho  moat  creditable  to  tlie  chornclor  of  the  American  marine 
that  occurred  in  tho  course  of  the  war.  Tho  voaaela  were  very 
Aiirly  matched,  and  when  it  ia  romomborod  that  an  English 
flog-officcr  had  sent  tho  Pcnsuin  on  eapecial  service  against  a 
ship  believed  to  be  materially  heavier  than  the  vessel  she  ac- 
tually encountered,  it  ia  fair  to  prcaumo  ahe  waa  thought  to  be, 
in  every  reapcct,  an  efficient  cruiser.  Yet,  with  the  advantage 
of  tho  wind,  this  ship  was  taken  in  33  minutes,  including  the 
time  lost  while  she  hung  on  the  Hornet's  quarter,  and  while 
the  latter  was  waring.  Tho  neatness  and  despatch  with  which  ■ 
the  American  sloop  did  her  work,  the  coolness  with  which  she 
met  the  attempt  to  board,  and  tho  accuracy  of  her  fire  and 
handling,  are  all  prooft  of  her  having  been  a  disciplined  man- 
of-war,  and  of  tho  high  condition  of  that  service  in  which  sbo 

•  Now  Captain  Coumt 


486 


NATAL    KIITOAV. 


tiiii. 


wai  oiis  of  the  favourites.     It  ia  by  such  espbita  that  the 
chiirii<*t«r  of  a  mnriiio  i^t  most  «fl«Hrtiwlly  pnivwl. 

A  f«w  hours  allor  (ho  action,  a  strnti((«  niui  suspiciously  look- 
ing sail  heaving  in  sight,  a  cable  was  takon  from  the  i'anguin, 
and  th«)  Hornet  tow^  her  some  distance  otF  the  land.  A(\«r 
thoroughly  examining  the  priie,  and  setting  out  of  her  all  the 
■tor«»  and  provisions  that  wore  wanteu,  liefor«  dayliuht,  on  the 
morning  ollhe  WOth,  Captain  Biddle scuttled  her.  The  Hornet 
then  stwxl  in  towards  the  island  to  look  for  the  strange  sail, 
which  waa  found  to  bo  the  Peacock,  having  the  Tom  nowline 
in  company.  An  arrangement  waa  now  made,  by  which  tho 
latter  waa  convertod  into  a  carte),  and  waa  sent  into  St.  S«lva< 
dor  with  tho  prisoners. 

As  soon  as  he  was  released  flrom  this  encumbrance,  and 
from  the  groat  drain  on  his  supplies,  Captain  Biddle  was  ready 
to  continue  his  cruise.  This  spirited  officer  did  not  consider 
the  capture  of  a  vessel  of  the  same  class  aa  his  own,  a  reason 
of  itself  for  returning  to  oort ;  but,  it  having  been  ascertained, 
by  means  of  the  Auioedonian,  a  biig  which  sailed  with  the 
President,  that  the  latter  ship  waa  prooably  captured,  Captain 
Warrington  determined  to  proceed  on  the  orif^^nal  cruise,  with 
the  remaining  vessels.  They  sailed,  accordingly,  on  the  18th 
of  April,  having  remained  at  the  island  the  time  directed  in  tha 
instructiona  of  Commodoro  Decatur. 

While  making  tho  beat  of  their  way  towards  the  Indian  smm, 
on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  April,  the  two  ships  then  being 
in  lat.  88°  30'  S.,  long.  83"  E.,  the  Peacock  made  tho  signal 
of  a  stranger  to  the  southward  and  eastward.  Both  the  sloopa 
of  war  made  sail  in  chaae.  Though  the  wind  was  light,  before 
evening  it  was  found  that  the  strani^r  was  materially  nearer.  It 
now  (bTi  calm,  and  the  chaae  waa  in  sight  in  the  morning.  The 
wind  coming  out  at  N.  W.,  the  shipa  ran  down  before  it,  with 
atudding-saila  on  both  sides,  the  stranger  hauling  up,  appa* 
rently,  to  look  at  them.  The  Peacock  was  the  fastcat  vessel, 
and  being  two  leagues  ahead  at  half  past  2,  P.  M.,  she  waa  ob* 
served  to  manifest  some  caution  about  approaching  ihc  stranger, 
when  the  Hornet  took  in  her  atarboard  light  sails,  and  hauled 
up  for  her  consort.  It  waa  now  thought,  on  board  the  latter 
snip,  that  tho  stranger  waa  a  large  Indiaman,  and  that  the 
Peacock  was  merely  waiting  for  the  Hornet  to  come  up,  in 
order  to  attack  her.  But  an  hour  later  Captain  Warrington 
made  a  signal  that  tho  vessel  in  sight  was  a  tine-of-battle  ship, 
and  an  enemy.    The  Hornet  imrnediatf  ly  hauled  cloee  upos 


nil] 


NATAL     HIITORT. 


437 


the  wind,  th«  ■trangor  lh*m  on  \}*<t  \tm  ouarti^r,  dbtant  not  quite 
two  leajjues,  the  Peacock  passing  flh«*n  anil  mxm  getting  clear 
of  him. 

It  waa  now  wnn  that  lh«  Kngliah  ihip  aaiM  vtry  Ikat^  and 
waa  unusually  wnulhrrly.  Tho  llonwt  hniiig  tnoro  particu- 
larly in  danger,  about  V  1'.  M.,(.'aptaiii  Hiddl«  lolt  it  mKMwmry 
to  begin  to  lighlvn,  his  vaaasl  bning  cruwdmi  with  stoma  taken 
iVom  the  [Vnguin.  Twelvo  tons  of  k«ntlsdg«,  a  quantity  of 
■hot,  iHJn»  h«'«vy  spars,  and  th«  shiwt.anohor  and  cable,  wer« 
thrown  ovcrlxtanl.  Hy  a  A.  M.,  lh«  nnnmy  had  drawn  for- 
ward  of  tha  Iwi-bwim,  when  tho  llornH  tacked  to  thn  wiwitward, 
the  anemy  imntediately  following.  At  daylight  on  tho  U9th, 
tho  Knglish  ship  was  on  tho  leo  quarter  of  the  American,  and 
within  gun-shot.  At  7  o'clock  she  had  Knglish  colours  set  with 
a  rear-adtniral's  flag  flying,  and  she  commencxHl  firing.  Th« 
•hot  pasaing  ov:  tho  lloriipt,  'ho  launch  was  cut  up  and  gotten 
rid  of,  the  other  anchors  and  cables,  mor«  shot,  as  ninny  heavy 
articles  as  could  be  come  at,  and- six  of  tho  guns  weni  also 
thrown  overboard.  By  9  o'clock,  the  «nemy  had  dropped  so 
Ikr  astern  that  he  ci>ased  firing,  the  concussion  produced  by 
his  guns  having  deadened  tho  wind. 

By  U  A.  M.,  however,  it  waa  found  thot  the  enemy  was 
again  cloaing,  when  the  Hornet  threw  overboard  all  the  re- 
maining  guns  but  one,  the  boats,  moat  nf  her  shot,  all  tho 
•pare  spars,  and  as  many  other  articles  ofT  dock  and  from  be- 
low,  as  could  be  got  at.  She  also  cut  up  her  topgallant  fore- 
castle, and  throw  tho  pieces  into  tho  ocean.  At  meridian,  the 
enemy  had  got  within  a  mile,  and  he  began  again  to  fire,  his 
■hot  flying  (ar  beyond  the  ahip.  Fortunately  but  throo  struck 
her.  One  passed  through  her  jib,  another  plunged  on  her 
deck,  glancing  and  lodging  forward,  and  a  third  alio  hulled 
her.  Still  Capliun  Biddle  held  on,  determined  not  to  give  up 
his  ship  while  there  waa  a  ray  of  hop.*,  for  it  was  aecn  that 
the  enemy  waa  dropped  while  firing.  About  2  P.  M.  the 
breese  frosheocd,  and  got  moro  to  the  weatward.  Previously 
to  this,  the  wind,  by  tacking  to  the  southeast,  had  greatly 
favoured  the  chase,  but  it  now  brought  the  Hornet  more  to 
windward,  and  sho  began  to  get  brisk  way  on  her.  At  sunaet 
the  stranger  was  more  than  a  league  astern,  and  the  ship  was 
nmning  nine  knoU  throughout  the  night,  the  wind  blowing  in 
•quails.  The  enemy  was  •een  at  intervals,  carrying  sail  in 
chaau,  but  at  daylight  he  was  neariy  hull  down  astern.  At 
half-past  9  A.  M.,  he  took  in  hia  studding-^aila,  reefed  his  top- 
87* 


mmmmm 


■mma 


4S8 


NAVAL    NiaroRW 


(III* 


I 


MiU  ami  hauM  ofT  u>  the  uMlwarO  i  and  two  Imuri  l«l«r,  Hw 
UjMsif  ssiia  had  shj.'ja-ji.  '!'!»  !!«?!»!  had  D«>w  no  anchof 
Cani«<.  Hor  ImmI,  ami  bnt  uim  ifun,  ami  vIk'  iiMiki  thn  Iw^wi  ul'  hai 
way  to  Hi.  Halvador,  iur  ttxi  rvlMiC  i>(  (lis  wi>umV'<'  Ikn 
Captain  Htddin  h»«rii  of  Ihn  p«a<-<<,  wh«in  tm  aatliA«  iw  N«« 
York,  wbmh  pi*rt  Iw  readied  un  tho  auiii  ul' July. 

Tha  vtHMnl  thai  chMMxi  tha  llornat  waa  the  (k>rnwatlb  74 
bMniig  llm  (kg  (if  an  uincnr  pnMweiiinK  to  tlm  I'^l  Indina. 

Tim  l'm<-iM^k  cunlinucid  h<<r  cruiar,  and  on  tlw  UtHh  ul'  Junu 
in  thn  Hiraita  of  Hunda,  aha  Inll  tu  with  the  i'kot  Imlia  ('um 
|Miny'«  cruioar,  Nautdim  14,  <'a|itai'^  li»yc«.  In  < iMia«M|it«a<w 
of  (.'aptain  WarrinKton'a  havinn  no  knowl«di(«  ul'  the  pvooa, 
broadaidna  won*  rii-hanK«xJ,  wh«n  thn  Nautilua  otruok.  'I'hui 
unriirtiinald  iniatakn  cx^rurnHl  a  ivw  day«  nDur  th()  period  ovt 
Iur  ih«)  li^iminalion  orh4Mliliii<>a,  and  havuiK  aoct^rtnimNl  llwl  n 
treaty  of  iwMro  had  lirrn  ratilUd  m  March,  Captiiiii  Wnrnng- 
to(i  y,»vt)  up  ih«  Nautdua  tha  iwxl  day.  Thn  latlnr  vinhmiI  hail 
0  killed  and  H  wound<Hi,  btit  nu  peraon  waa  hurt  on  btMuni  tJM 
Peacock,  which  ahip  immMlialnly  rntumod  h<Hna. 

Thn  combat  botwwn  thn  llorrM't  and  |Vnt(uin  waa  iho  laol 
rrgular  artu)n  of  thn  war,  and  ihn  mnaintro  Iwlwiwn  thn  I'na- 
cock  and  Nautilui,  thn  iaal  inatancn  of  hoatilitina  betwmnn  tho 
brIliKtininta.  Whnn  thn  iVacock  got  in,  every  cruiaer  that 
had  been  out  against  the  Kngliah  had  returned  to  port. 

Thn  Iturning  of  the  frigate  Columbia,  at  Waahington,  and 
the  blockade  oi  thn  Java  m  the  ('hnoapnake,  hod  inductnl  the 
guvDrnninnt,  in  tin!  autumn  of  1814,  to  pun^hooe  or  build  two 
oquadrons  of  amall  veawla,  one  of  which  was  to  be  commanded 
by  Captain  Porter,  and  thn  other  by  Captain  Perry.  Tho 
former  succeeded  iu  buvin  '«  'm  <it<ii>ttnea,  or  schooners,  and 
hn  '•««  about  to  sail  with  Iheio  >  >  n .'-  4  news  of  pnrton  rcocl)"d 
thn  country.  Thn  vnaae''  ,  A*. a  ..  .«d  one  ol'  *  rj©  flying 
a({uadronii,  wore  the  Firoi  ^ ,  H'm«,  lorch,  Spitfire,  and  Fliim- 
beau.  The  first  (k>stinatioa  of  this  force  waa  the  Woat  Inditis, 
•nd  it  wna  understood  that  it  waa  to  soil  with  orders  to  burn, 
sink,  and  destroy,  without  attempting,  except  in  very  extra* 
ordinary  cjuca,  to  girt  any  thing  in. 

Captain  l^rry  was  leu  succnsuful  in  finding  suitable  veaaels, 
and  three  stout  brigs,  called  the  Hoxer,  Saranar,  and  Chippewa, 
were  laid  down,  though  built  with  green  timber.  Another, 
called  the  Ea«^pe,  was  purchaaed  and  named  the  Prometheus ; 
but  it  would  scorn  that  a  fiAh  vessel  had  not  b»Dn  fouod  when 
peace  was  procluiauHl. 


•IP 


Ml«.) 


NAVAL    HIMTOar. 


430 


lIltM  tormiiMleil  thn  war  of  |H|]|,  an  fWr  M  it  wm  ronnflcM 
»ilh  thti  Amffima  ninriJif.  'ITv'  nsvy  <-am«  out  of  lhi»  •♦r"!? 
kIm  with  n  vnat  inf*rcNii(^  of  rcpiitiilinii.  Th''  lirilliont  «tylp  m 
whicli  i(wi  •hipx  hml  li«<rn  i-arri^l  iiilo  action,  llio  «lrn(lin(«M 
and  rapidity  with  whi<-h  th«y  had  h><f^n  hnrnttcd,  luid  iht*  fatal 
accuracy  of  tMr  llf,  on  iwnrly  «)v«<ry  occamon,  |iriMlu<iN|  a 
MW  em  in  naval  wartkro.  Moat  of  iho  frigatn  action*  liad  ImMi 
aa  loon  do-idttl  aa  circutnatancra  would  at  all  allow,  and  in 
no  inninni'n  woa  it  found  nrttHMarv  to  knrp  up  tho  flro  of  a 
•lijop  (if  war  an  hour,  wh^n  -tin^lv  tii^a^rd.  Mont  of  tho 
comitata  of  tho  latter,  in  I«-<hI,  wirx  (lo  nlfd  m  nhout  half  that 
time.  Tho  rscculion  <lono  in  ihcto  Nhort  i-onflicla  woa  ollnn 
eipial  to  that  mudo  hy  tlio  larKPut  vca»«lii  of  I'.uroiir,  in  g«n«ml 
action* ;  and  in  ■onm  of  thrni,  the  slain  and  wounucd  compriaml 
•  very  lnr({«  profMirtioti  of  thccnpwa. 

It  is  not  caay  to  aay  in  which  nation  thi*  tinlookcd-for  mault 
erMtcd  tho  iiHwt  lorprMo ;  Anx-ricji  or  Kn^land.  In  the  flmt 
it  pnxiuccd  n  conlidcnco  in  itnulf  that  had  iNwn  greatly  wanted, 
but  which,  in  llm  end,  iirrhap*,  dr|(en«ratc<l  to  a  feeling  of  8«lf» 
iMtt*etnnndNf<-urity  that  won  not  without  danger.or  entirely  with- 
out exiijJKerntion.  The  la»t  wn*  induced  to  alter  it»  tnoilo  of 
rating,  adopting  one  liy  no  nvnnnna  fn<<;  from  the  imputation  of  a 
want  of  conaiatcncy  an  thot  which  it  abandoned,  and  it  altogether 
ehengvd  ita  raiimatn  of  the  force  of  linglfl  ahipa,  a«  well  n»  of  tho 
armamenlH  of  frigotea.  The  nhloiit  and  braveat  captaina  of  the 
Engliiih  IWt  wen)  ready  t<»  admit  that  a  new  power  wo*  about 
to  ap|)eiir  on  the  ocean,  und  thnt  it  ivaa  not  improbable  the  hattio 
for  tho  moatery  of  tho  M>aa  would  have  to  Ut  fought  over  again. 
In  abort,  while  nomo  of  tho  ignorant,  (iresuming,  and  boaatfUl 
wem  diapooed  to  find  oxcuaca  for  iha  unexpected  nautical  re. 
veraea  which  Qrmt  Britain  had  met  with  in  Ihia  short  war,  the 
oagacioua  and  reflecting  aaw  in  them  matter  for  aeriou.i  appro- 
honiion  and  olarm.  They  knew  thnt  the  former  triumpha  of 
their  admirals  had  not  so  much  grown  out  of  tin  unu  lual  ability 
to  mamnuvre  flecta,  as  in  tho  national  aptitude  to  manago  nm- 
g\e  ahi|>s  j  and  they  saw  tho  proofs  of  tho  samo  aptitudo,  in  the 
conduct  of  tho  Americana  during  Ihia  strugulo,  improved  oik 
by  n  skill  in  gunnery,  that  hod  never  Ijcforc  be<!n  so  uniformly 
manifeNtefl  in  naval  warfare.  In  a  word,  it  may  bo  questioned 
if  all  the  great  victories  of  tho  last  European  conflicts  caused 
morn  exultation  among  the  uninatructed  of  that  nation,  than 
the  defeats  of  this  govn  rise  to  misgivings  and  apprehensions 
among  those  who  were  ablo  to  appreciate  causes  and  to  antici 


■MlBMHHKiMHIipi 


440 


NATAL     HISTORY. 


[18IA. 


pate  consequences  in  a  matte.*  so  purely  profbssional  as  the 
construction,  nonors,  and  handling  of  chips.  Many  false 
modes  of  accounting  fur  the  novel  character  that  had  beea 
siven  to  naval  battles  was  .esortud  to.  Among  other  reasons, 
It  witM  utarmed  that  the  American  vessels  of  war  sailed  with 
crews  of  picked  seamen.  It  is  not  linown  that  a  single  vessel 
left  the  country,  the  case  of  the  Constitution  on  her  two  last 
crurtes  excepted,  with  a  crew  that  could  be  deemed  extraordi* 
nary.  No  American  man-of-war  ever  sailed  with  a  comple- 
ment composed  of  nothing  but  able  seamen ;  and  some  of  the 
hardest  fought  battles  that  occurred  during  this  war.  wjre 
fought  by  ships*  companies  that  werfi  materially  worse  than 
common.  The  people  of  the  vessels  on  Lake  Uhamplain,  ia 
particular,  were  of  a  qualit]^  much  inferior  to  those  usually 
found  in  ships  of  war.  Neither  were  the  officers,  in  general, 
old  or  very  experienced.  The  navy  itself  had  existed  but 
fourtesn  vears,  when  the  war  commenced ;  and  some  of  the 
commaudcrs  began  their  professional  careers,  several  years 
after  the  first  appointments  had  been  made.  Perhaps  one  half 
of  the  lieutenants,  in  the  service  at  the  peace  of  1816,  had  gone 
on  board  ship,  for  the  first  time,  within  six  years  from  the 
declaration  of^  the  war,  and  very  many  of  them  within  three 
or  four.  So  far  from  the  midshipmen  having  been  masters 
and  mates  of  merchantmen,  as  was  reported  at  the  time,  they 
were  generally  youths  that  first  quitted  the  ease  and  comforts 
of  the  paternal  home,  when  they  appeared  on  the  quarter-deck 
of  a  man-of-war. 

That  the  tone  and  discipline  of  the  service  were  high,  ia 
true ;  but  it  must  be  ascribed  to  moral,  and  not  to  physical 
causes ;  to  that  aptitude  in  the  American  character  for  the  sea, 
which  has  been  so  constantly  manifested  from  the  day  the  first 
pinnace  sailed  along  the  coast  on  the  trading  voyages  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  down  to  the  present  moment. 


...i,:.^iii.j. 


•      '   -lairi^M^iMMIIMi^— — Mil 


IBIS.] 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


441 


CHAPTER  L. 

AoBKiABiY  to  the  policy  of  the  Earbary  powert,  the  Dey  of 
Algiers  no  sooner  found  thie  republican  cruisers  excluded  from 
the  Mediterranean,  by  the  English  war,  than  he  began  to  com. 
mit  his  depredations  on  the  little  American  commeme  that  xo- 
mained  in  or  near  that  sea.  During  the  late  conflict,  there 
was  little  leisure,  and  no  great  motive,  to  attend  to  this  new 
enemy,  but  peace  was  no  sooner  made  with  England,  thao 
Congress,  on  the  2d  of  March,  1B15,  passed  an  Act  authoriz* 
ing  nostilities  against  Algiers.  T'nk  ..as  at  a  moment  when 
extensive  preparations  had  been  makins  to  oontinuo  the  more 
serious  contest,  and,  as  several  thousand  mariners  were  at  once 
withdrawn  from  the  lakes,  the  government  was  enabled  to 
strike  an  early  and  important  blow  at  its  new  enemy.  Crews 
were  thrown  into  the  Guerriere,  Macedonian  and  Congress 
frigates,  the  light  squadrons  mentioned  in  the  last  chapter  fur* 
nished  several  efficient  vessels  for  such  service,  and  various 
sloops  were  already  prepared  to  go  to  sea.  A  force  consisting 
of  the  Guurriere  44,  Capt,  Lewis ;  the  Constellation  38,  Copt. 
Gordon;  the  Macedonian  86,  Capt.  Jones;  the  Ontario  18, 
Capt.  Elliott;  Epervier  18,  Capt.  Downes;  Firefly  12,  Lt, 
Com.  Rodgers;  Spark  12,  Lt.  Com.  Gamble;  Fiambeau  12, 
Lt.  Com.  Nicolson ;  Toroh  12,  Lt.  Com.  Chauncey,  and  Spit, 
fire  12,  Lt.  Com.  Dallas,  assembled  in  the  port  of  New  York 
in  the  course  of  the  spring.  M&y  the  21st,  this  squadron  sailed 
for  the  Mediterranean,  under  the  orders  of  Commodore  Decatur, 
whose  pennant  was  flying  in  the  Guerriere. 

The  Toroh,  Spitfire  and  Firefly  separated  in  a  gale,  on  the 
26th  of  May,  the  Firefly  being  obliged  to  return  in  conse- 
quence of  springing  her  masts.  The  Ontario  also  lost  the 
*  squadron  on  the  81st.  Commodore  Decatur  reached  Tangiors 
on  the  iSth  of  June,  and  had  some  communicotions  rith  the 
consul.  From  this  gentleman  he  learned  that  the  Algerine 
Admiral  Hammida,  had  been  off  the  port  the  previous  day,  in 
a  frigate,  and  that  he  had  sailed  again  on  his  wav  to  Cartha. 
gena,  in  company  with  a  heavy  bruz.  The  s<)uadron  entered 
the  Straits  immediately,  called  the  Ontario,  Spitfire  and  Torch 
out  of  Gibraltar  by  signal,  m  passing,  and  shi4>ed  its  course 


NillliliiM 


442 


NATAL   HISTORY. 


[1815 


for  Cupe  de  Oatt.  On  the  17th  of  June,  it  fell  in  with  the 
Algurinc  frigate  Mishouri  46,  Rais  Ilammida,  when  the  Con- 
Bteliiition,  Capt.  Gordon,  the  leading  vossci,  Hucceedcd  in  bring- 
ing her  to  action.  In  a  few  minutes  the  Guerricre,  Capt.  Lewis, 
bearing  the  Commodore's  pennant,  passed  between  the  two 
vessels,  and  poured  in  a  broadside,  unfortunately  one  of  the 
twenty-fours  burst,  at  this  discharge,  blew  up  the  spar  deck,  and 
killed  and  wounded  from  30  to  45  men.  The  effect  of  her 
broadside,  notwithstanding,  was  to  drive  the  eneiny  from  his 
guns,  a  few  musketmen  alone  continuing  the  action  on  the 

Grt  of  the  Algerincs.  The  Ontario  pressing  the  Mishouri  on 
r  quarter,  the  Macedonian  coming  up  on  her  beam,  and  the 
Mnall  vessels  closing  also,  there  was  no  possibility  of  escape, 
and  the  enemy  struck.  The  Algerine  Admiral  was  among  the 
slain. 

Com.  Decatur  reported  this  afiair  as  a  running  fight  of  25 
minutes,  in  which  the  enemy  had  80  men  killed,  besides  a 
great  many  wounded.  The  prisoners  amounted  to  406.  No 
vessel  sustained  any  loss  but  the  Guerriere,  on  board  of  which 
ship  4  men  were  wounded  by  musket-balls,  in  addition  to  those 
who  suffered  by  the  explosion. 

Two  days  later,  or  on  the  10th  of  June,  the  squadron  chased 
an  enemy's  brig  of  22  guns*  and  180  men,  into  shoal  water, 
off  Cape  Palos.  Tlje  Epervier,  Ftpark,  Torch  and  Spitfire 
were  ordered  in  to  destroy  her,  and  they  compelled  her  to 
strike  afler  a  short  resistance.  No  less  than  23  dead  were 
found  on  board  this  vessel,  and  80  prisoners  were  received  from 
her,  though  many  of  her  people  escaped  to  the  shore.  It  was 
thought  t^at  many  of  those  who  had  lefl  the  prize,  perished  by 
the  fire  of  the  assailants,  and  it  was  known  that  one  boat  was 
sunk.  No  injury  was  sustained  by  the  Americans,  nor  was 
either  of  the  vessels  injured.    The  brig  was  r?.lled  the  Bstedio. 

Commodore  EMcatui  sent  his  prizes  into  Cartlyigena,  and 
proceeded  to  Algiers  with  most  of  his  vessels,  where  m  arrived 
on  the  28th.  Here  the  Dey  was  offered  the  choice  of  war  or 
peace,  and  he  wisely  accepted  the  latter.  A  tit^ty  was  con- 
cluded June  80th,  or  just  40  days  ailer  the  American  iquadron 
left  New  York.  This  treaty  is  memorable  from  the  circum- 
stance that  it  was  made  on  the  terms  of  reciprocity  acknow- 
ledged among  civilised  nations.  By  this  treaty,  tribute  was 
for  ever  abolished,  as  between  the  United  States  and  Algiers ; 
there  was  a  mutual  delivery  of  prisoners ;  a  restitution  of^  pro- 
perty taken  from  American  citizens  was  made;  nor  wore 


[1815 


mi.] 


NAVAL    HIBTORT. 


443 


slavoii  to  be  made,  in  the  event  of  nny  future  war.  In  other 
respccta,  this  arrnngcmont  was  acceptable  to  the  republic  and 
humiliating  to  the  regency. 

There  con  bo  no  doubt  that  the  Doy  was  mduced  to  uign 
thia  treaty  thus  promptly,  on  account  of  the  critical  condition 
of  the  remainder  of  hiu  lleet ;  iwrtions  of  which  wore  expected 
hourly  off  the  place.  An  attempt  had  been  made  to  procure 
a  suspension  of  hostilities,  pending  the  negotiation  ;  but  to  this 

R reposition,  the  American  commissioners,  Com.  Decatur  and 
(r.  William  Shalcr,  absolutely  declined  acceding.  A  sloop 
of  war  did  actually  heave  in  sight  before  the  treaty  was  receiv- 
ed, signed  by  the  Dey  ;  and  had  she  appeared  an  hour  sooner, 
she  would  have  been  captured.  The  Ucy  asksd,  as  a  personal 
favour,  to  have  the  frigate  and  brig  restored,  and  to  tins  the 
Commissioners  consented,  though  they  refused  to  allow  an  arti- 
cle  to  that  effect  to  bo  inserted  in  the  treaty. 

After  dictating  terms  to  the  Dey  of  Algiers,  in  the  manner 
mentioned.  Commodore  Decatur  transferred  Captain  Downcs 
of  the  Epervier  to  his  own  ship,  gave  the  command  of  the 
former  to  the  Guerriere's  first  lieutencnt,  Mr.  John  templar 
Shubrick,  and  ordered  the  latter  home  with  the  treaty.  The 
Epervier  left  the  squadron  a  few  days  after  the  prisoners  were 
released,  and  passed  the  StraiU  about  the  lOlh  of  July.  It  m 
said  that  she  was  seen  early  in  August,  and  that  a  tremendous 
gale  succeeded  on  the  following  day ;  but  nothing  certam  la 
known  of  her  fate.  Twenty-six  years  have  elapsed,  and  no 
occurrence  has  transpired  to  throw  any  light  on  the  nature 
of  the  disaster.  Like  the  Saratoga,  I'lnsurgento,  the  Pickering, 
the  Wasp,  and  gun-boat  No.  7,  this  unfortunate  vessel  has  dis- 
appeared, leaving  behind  her  no  traces  of  the  manner  in  which 
•he  was  lost.* 


•  There  were  sevend  puaengen  on  board  the  Eperrier,  iwrae  of  whom 
had  been  priMoire  in  Algiert.  Among  others  were  CapUin  Lewiii,  Ute 
of  the  Guerrieie,  and  Mr.  Benedict  J.  Neale,  Ute  fint  lieutenant  of  the 
ConalellatiMi.  Theee  gentlemen  had  married  aiatert,  a  ahort  time  before 
the  aqnMlran  left  home,  and  hating  teen  the  war  at  an  end,  were  return- 
ins  to  th^  brides,  with  the  feelings  of  men  who  had  the  oouiciouineaa 
d^having  tMnporarily  aaerillced  the  bast  affitotiona  to  duty.  Of  course 
tber  were  hiet  u  the  wweL  „„.„.  ^    joi-vi.    e 

Mr.  John  Templar  Shubrick  was  a  son  of  Cd.  Richard  Shubnck  of 
South  Ckrolitta,  who  had  lerved  with  credit  in  the  war  of  the  revoluUon, 
and  was  allied  by  Uood  to  the  Draytons,  Hnmillons,  Hayne*',  and  other 

CIriotic  and  diftinguiahed  ikmilifs  of  that  SUle.    Mr.  Shubrick  had 
Ml  s'mguUrly  fertunato  in  leeing  aerrioe.    He  waa  on  board  the  Con- 


«* 


444 


NAVAL     HISTORY. 


[1815. 


Peace  was  no  sooner  signed  with  Algiers,  than  ComnKxloro 
Decatur  proceeded  first  to  Tunis  and  then  to  Tripoli,  with 
reclamations  on  thuso  governments,  for  injuries  done  American 
commerce,  during  fho  lute  English  war.  In  both  instances 
redress  was  obtained  in  the  promptest  manner.  Commodore 
Decatur  says,  in  one  of  his  official  letters,  in  reference  to  these 
demands, — "  During  the  progress  of  our  negotiations  with  the 
States  of  Barbery,  now  brought  to  a  conclusion,  there  has  ap- 
peared a  disposition,  on  the  part  of  each  of  them,  to  grant  as 
far  as  we  were  disposed  to  demand."  No  better  illustration 
can  be  given  of  the  change  that  had  been  effected  by  the  ser- 
vices of  the  Navy,  within  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  than  is  to  be 
found  iQ  this  simple  but  memorable  declaration.  The  facts 
fully  warranted  it;  and  from  the  summer  of  1816,  dates  the 
fall  of  a  system  of  piratical  depredations  that  had  rendered  the 
high  seas  in  that  quarter  of  the  world  insecure  for  several  cen- 
turies, and  .  hich  existed  a  disgrace  to  European  civilization. 

As  the  prompt  submission  of  the  Dey  of  Algiers  could  not 
be  foreseen,  vessels  were  constantly  quitting  the  United  States 
for  the  Mediterranean,  as  they  got  ready,  in  order  to  reinforce 
the  squadron,  in  anticipation  of  an  attack  upon  the  town. 
Among  others,  the  Independence  74  sailed,  under  the  orders 
of  Commodore  Bainbridge,  who  was  to  assume  the  chief  com- 
mand, on  arriving  out.  This  was  the  first  two-decked  ship 
that  ever  went  to  sea  under  the  American  flag.  She  arrived 
ton  late  for  active  service ;  but  collecting  several  ships,  Com- 

•Ututioo  in  Iter  sctioM  with  the  Onerriare  and  Java.  He  waa  then  tran^ 
fund  to  the  Hornet,  and  acted  aa  her  fint  lieutenant  when  ahe  took  the 
Peacock.  He  tailed  in  the  Preaident,  Commodore  Decatur,  aa  her  aecond 
lieutenant,  but  became  firat  in  the  action,  Mr.  Babbit  having  been  killed 
at  the  firat  broadaide  of  the  Endymion.  He  then  went  to  tm  Guerriere, 
as  first,  and  waa  near  being  deatroyed  by  the  buratinf  of  the  gun,  in  the 
action  with  the  Algerine,  a  large  piece  of  the  metal  equally  sitting  his 
hat  Ailar  all  his  eacapea,  Mr.  Shnbrick  periabed  in  the  manner  meo- 
ticned.  He  waa  an  cmcer  of  not  only  hUh  ptomiae,  but  of  hiyh  per- 
ibrmanoe,  hia  oonduct  on  etery  ocoaaion  elidling  praiae  fVom  hia  sope- 
ricra.  He  had  not  long  been  married  when  he  waa  leal,  leering  an  only 
son.  Four  brolhora  ofthia  fiunily  have  served  in  the  navy  with  reputa- 
tion. The  aeeond  in  years,  ia  Cororaodore  Wm.  Btaniiitd  Shnbrick,  late 
of  tlie  Weat'India  aqutdron,  and  now  commanding  at  Noriblk;  Captain 
Edward  Shubrick  is  the  third;  and  Commander  Irvine  Shnbrick  is  the 
youngeat  The  aon  of  Mr.  John  Templar  Shnbrick,  ia  also  a  lisutenanl 
in  the  navy. 

On  board  the  Eparvier  abo  periahed  Lieutenant  Yaraall,  who  had  boea 
Hist  in  the  Lawrenoe,  in  her  bloody  oonfliot  on  Lake  Erie. 


•m*      IB 


[1815. 


1818.]  NAVAL    HISTORY.  44ft 

modore  Bainbridgo  mode  a  great  improasion  on  the  different 
Barbary  powcra,  by  showing  this  fresh  force  off  their  ports, 
just  after  Commodere  Dncalur  had  left  them.  In  this  manner 
a  squadron  was  soon  assembled,  that  grcntly  exceeded  in 
numbers  and  guns,  any  force  that  the  republic  had  then 
sent  to  sea.  It  is  believed  that  the  following  vessels  ap- 
peared  in  the  Mediterranean  at,  or  quite  near,  the  same  time, 
viz: — 

Independence ...  74  ... .  Com.  Bainbridge. 

Ouerriere ,  44  . . . .  Capt.  Downes,  Com.  Decatur. 

United  States  ...  44 Capt.  Shaw. 

Constellation  ...  88  ... .  Capt.  Gordon. 

Congress 38  ... .  Capt.  Morris. 

Macedonian  ....  38  ....  Capt.  Jones. 

Ontario 18  ... .  Capt.  Elliott. 

Erie 18  ....  Capt.  Ridoely. 

Epervier 18  ....  Lt.  Com.  Shubrick. 

Boxer 16  ....  Lt.  Com.  Porter. 

Saranac 16  ....  Lt.  Com.  Elton. 

Chippewa 16  ....  Lt.  Com.  Reid. 

Spark 12 Lt.  Com.  Gamble. 

Enterprise 12  ....  Lt.  Com.  Kearny. 

Firefly 12  ....  Lt.  Com.  Hodgers. 

Spitfire 12  ....  Lt.  Com.  Dallas. 

Torch 12  ....  Lt.  Com.  Chaunoey. 

Flambeau 12  ....  Lt.  Com.  Nicolson. 

Lynx 12  ....  Lt.  Com.  Storer. 

The  Java  44,  Captain  Perry,  appeared  a  little  later.  Com* 
modore  Decatur  returned  home  with  the  Guerriere  and  one  or 
two  other  vessels,  as  so(m  as  the  service  was  completed ;  and 
Commodore  Bainbridge  arrived  at  Newport  in  November,  with 
thirteen  vessels  of  the  squadron,  viz :  one  ship  of  the  line,  two 
frif^tes,  seven  brigs,  and  three  schooners.  This  is  the  largest 
American  force  that  ever  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  company. 

Commodore  Shaw  was  left  In  command,  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean, with  the  United  States  44,  Constellation  38,  Ontario  18, 
and  Brie  18.    The  Java  44,  joined  him  shortly  after. 

Thus  terminated  the  last  Barbary  war,  the  impression  left 

by  which  promises  to  be  lasting,  and  which  may  be  said,  in> 

deed,  to  have  changed  the  policy  of  Europe,  as  regards  those 

States,  whkh  had  so  long  existed  as  nuisances  to  all  legal 

99 


' 


446  NAVAL    H11T0RT.  [1B41: 

navigation,  and  exceptions  to  the  laws  that  regulated  inter- 
oourao  between  civilized  nations. 

The  misunderstanding  in  the  Mediterranean  bein^  arran^, 
the  oountry  had  no  lunger  any  pressing  service  for  its  marine. 
Nevertheless,  it  now  otftred  the  singular  spectacle  of  a  country 
increasing  its  niival  armaments,  in  u  time  of  profound  peace. 
The  views  of  the  government  would  seem  to  have  enlarged 
with  the  late  evonU,  and  the  necessity  of  keeping  afloat  a  force 
•ufflcient  to  protect  a  navigation  that  extended  to  the  remotest 
corners  of  the  earth,  was  now  gencrnlly  admitted.  The  foreijjn 
stations  were  no  longer  limited  to  the  Mediterranean,  but  ships 
from  this  time  forward  were  periodically  sent  to  the  Pacific 
and  the  coast  of  Brazil.  Not  long  after,  the  East  and  West 
Indies,  and  the  coast  of  Africa  attracted  notice ;  and  for  many 
years,  squadrons  have  been  employed  in  the  Mediterranean, 
on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  in  the  West  Indies,  and  in  the  East 
Indies,  the  latter,  however,  regularly  proceeding  round  the 
world,  touching  at  all  such  points  as  the  public  interests  have 
required.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  all  the  active  cruisers 
have  been  employed  on  this  foreign  service,  leaving  the  home 
coast,  vith  few  and  transient  exceptions,  quite  without  protec- 
tion. A  recent  law  (1841)  has  remedied  this  signal  defect  in 
the  nautical  policy  of  the  country,  and  henceforth,  it  is  to  bo 
hoped,  the  nation  will  possess  an  active  home  sauadron. 

Attention  was  paid,  soon  after  the  peace  or  1815,  to  the 
regular  increase  of  the  navy,  and  a  great  improvement  has  been 
made  in  the  construction  of  dry  docks.  The  following  two- 
decked  ohips  have  been  put  into  the  water,  and  all  of  them 
have  been  used  on  foreign  stations,  viz : 

Independence 74 

Washington 74 

Franklin 74 

Columbus 80 

North  Carolina 80 

'     Delaware 80 

Ohio 80 

Most  of  these  ships  have  been  found  to  be  good  veaeels  of 
th^  class,  and  two  or  three  of  them  quite  superior  to  ordinary 
ships  of  the  line.  They  have  never  been  tried  in  squadroD, 
an  experiment  that  is  necessar3r  to  a  just  appreciation  of  their 
fetpective  qualities.  It  remains  yet  to  assemble  the  first 
American  fleet    A  strong  force  ot  this  character  ia  indispen- 


1 


[i64ir 

itcd  inter* 

;  arran^, 
its  marine. 
'  a  country 
und  peace. 
D  enlarged 
oat  a  force 

0  remotest 
rho  foreign 
I,  but  ships 
tho  Pacific 
:  and  West 
i  for  many 
itcrrancan, 

1  the  East 
round  the 

srcsts  have 
vo  cruisers 
g  tho  home 
out  protec- 
il  defect  in 
,  it  is  to  bo 
Iron. 

no,  to  the 
nt  has  been 
owing  two- 
all  of  them 


1J41.] 


NAVAL    HISTORY. 


447 


1  vessels  of 
to  ordinary 
I  squadron, 
ion  of  their 
1«  the  first 
if  indispen* 


sable  to  forming  a  perfect  ond  elTiciont  iimrinc,  since  In  war 
great  resulta  can  only  be  obtained  by  an  exhibition  of  great 

power. 

One  threo.deckor,  the  Pcnnsylvonio  laO,  haa  been  Inunched. 
Several  ships  of  tho  lino  and  frigates  arc  also  on  the  stocks. 

The  navy  has  olao  l)ecn  incnjased,  within  tho  lust  twenty- 
five  years,  by  the  addition  of  many  heavy  frigiitoH  ond  sloops 
of  war:  although  still  far  from  having  reached  tho  point 
necessary  to  n  complete  defence  of  tho  nation,  it  is  probably, 
to-day,  a  hundred-fold  stronger  than  it  was  ut  tho  declaration 
of  war  in  1812.  Timl)er  and  other  materials  hove  bctin  col- 
lected in  considerable  quontities,  for  tho  construction  of  now 
ships  on  an  emergency  ;  and  there  is  litllo  doubt  that  another 
contest  would  developo  tho  nautical  rcsourees  of  tho  nation  to 
an  extent  never  anticipated  by  tho  last  generation. 

As  th)  ships  of  tho  navy  are  consfntly  changing,  o  list 
would  bo  of  little  permanent  use.    The  officers  form  the  essen- 
tia! feature  of  the  service,  and  of  these  there  are  now,  between — 
60  and    70  Captains, 
00  and  100  Commanders, 
350  and  400  Lieutenants,  &c.  &c. 

Unfortunately,  Congress  has  not  ye»  established  any  higher 
grade  than  that  first  named,  thereby  neglecting  the  calls  of 
justice,  ond  the  lofty  considerations  which  arc  inseparoble  from 
the  incentives  connected  with  professional  rank,  os  well  as  one 
of  the  most  certain  means  of  maintaining  discipline.  All  mili- 
tary experience  shows  that  rank  and  authority  are  correla- 
tives ;  and  oil  nouticol  practice  has  gone  to  prove  that  fleets 
arc  never  thoroughly  efficient,  until  animated  ond  controlled 
by  the  feeling  connected  with  a  perfect  submission  to  orders. 

There  is  no  longer  any  question  concerning  the  expediency 
of  tho  republic's  maintaining  a  powerful  marine.  Experience 
has  shown  there  is  no  security  without  one,  and  the  gallant 
service,  whoso  exploits  have  here  been  recorded,  has  got  to  be 
so  necessary  to,  and  so  general  a  favourite  with,  the  nation, 
that  it  scarcely  exceeds  the  bounds  of  truth  to  say  that  their 
existence  is  inseparable. 

TRI  IRD. 


i   ! 


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I».»SI 


nyi  J.   iiii_  iiii.m^i  f,. 


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